Duo Arrested After Striking Sergeant With Stolen Snow Plow: Cops

COMMACK, NY – Two people were arrested after they tried to mow down a Suffolk Police sergeant with a stolen pickup truck, forcing the officer to open fire on the vehicle after he was struck by a snow plow attached to the truck Friday morning, police said.

According to police, Fourth Precinct officers located a stolen 2008 Ford F-350 pickup truck occupied by a man and woman in the parking lot of NY Sports Club located at 6136 Jericho Turnpike in Commack around 11:45 a.m.

As an officer and a patrol sergeant approached the pickup truck from the side, the driver attempted to flee, backed out of a parking space and struck the sergeant in the left hand with a snow plow attached to the truck, police said

The truck was then driven forward toward the sergeant who, fearing for his life, fired two shots that struck the vehicle, police said. No one was struck by the gunfire.

The truck continued forward, jumped the curb and then exited the parking lot, but it became disabled a few blocks away, police said. The two occupants of the truck ran off, but they were apprehended by responding patrol units after a brief foot pursuit, police said.

The driver, James Connor, 35, of Ridge, was arrested and charged with first degree reckless endangerment, second degree assault, third degree grand larceny and third degree criminal possession of stolen property. The passenger, Alesha Labosco, 32, of Ridge, was arrested and charged with third degree grand larceny and third degree criminal possession of stolen property.

The patrol sergeant was treated and released from St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown.

Connor and Labosco were scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip Saturday.

The investigation is continuing.

SCPD photos