Long Island, NY - August 27, 2015 - On 8/26/15 at about 12:01 PM, a Trooper from the Farmingdale Barracks initiated a vehicle stop on a silver Jeep Cherokee for cell phone use by the vehicle operator eastbound side of the Southern State Parkway near exit 28A(Rt. 135). The Jeep operator refused to stop and led the Trooper onto Route 135 southbound, reaching speeds of over 100 mph. The Jeep exited at Sunrise Highway westbound, and at the end of the exit ramp, the Jeep continued traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes on Sunrise. Several motorist began waving over the pursuing trooper and advised him that they saw the Jeep operator exit the vehicle while the Jeep was still in motion. The Jeep continued without an operator before it struck a vehicle near Jackson Avenue. The driver attempted to flee and ran through St. William the Abbott School on Jackson Avenue in Seaford. The suspect ran through the school then was found in the vicinity of the accident scene, where he was apprehended by Troopers after a brief foot pursuit.
The Jeep operator, Michael Kessler, age 26, of Oceanside NY, was charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property(E Felony), Reckless Endangerment 2nd (A Misd.), Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle(A Misd.), Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs(Misd.), Criminal Trespass(B Misd.), Unlawful Possession of marihuana(Violation), and several traffic violations. It was determined earlier in the day the the defendant entered Grammar School number 8 in Oceanside, located keys to a Jeep Cherokee, and stole the Jeep. Mr. Kessler was held for arraignment in Nassau County First District Court.
