Bellport, NY - July 19th, 2014 - Suffolk County Police have arrested a Central Islip man for numerous charges after he fled from police in a stolen vehicle and crashed it in Bellport yesterday.
A police officer from the Third Precinct Community Support Unit attempted to initiate a routine traffic stop on McKinney Street in Central Islip and observed the driver of a 1994 Buick throwing drugs out of the vehicle while fleeing the scene at 5:59 p.m. A police pursuit followed but was terminated due to traffic conditions.
A Suffolk County Police helicopter followed the vehicle that had crashed into a guardrail on Sunrise Highway at Exit 56, and the driver was arrested by patrol officers at 6:32 p.m.
Shanden Terry, 21, of Central Islip, was arrested and charged with Unlawfully Fleeing A Police Officer, 3rd Degree, Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree, two counts of Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of Marijuana 5th Degree. Terry was also issued 53 summonses.
The MTA Police, who reported that the vehicle had been stolen at the Ronkonkoma Railroad Station earlier in the day, are charging Terry with additional counts relating to the stolen vehicle.
Terry is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip today.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.