DIX HILLS, NY – Four people were arrested after the vehicle they used to flee from a police traffic stop crashed into a tree, overturned and caught fire. Police quickly rushed to the aid of the suspects, placing them under arrest once they were rescued from the fire.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison and Chief of Detectives John Rowan held a press conference on Thursday to highlight the arrest of four people on weapons charges following a motor vehicle crash from which they were rescued by police officers in Dix Hills.
“First Precinct Officers Shawn Arigoni and Michael Renna observed a 2018 BMW speeding and swerving on Route 231 just before 1 a.m. on August 17 when the officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, the driver failed to stop, and the officers discontinued the traffic stop attempt,” the department said. “A short time later, the driver lost control of the vehicle on northbound Commack Road, just north of Burlington Avenue, and the vehicle struck a tree and overturned.”
Officers Arigoni and Renna then came upon the vehicle, which had caught fire due to the crash, and they, along with Police Officers Thomas Engelhardt and Ryan Carroll, pulled the driver and his three passengers from the vehicle. A fanny pack containing a loaded .40 caliber handgun was located inside the vehicle. All four were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
First Squad detectives charged the driver and his three passengers with weapons charges. One of the passengers was also charged with possessing narcotics.