Man Led Officers On Chase In Stolen Car, Hid In Garage: Nassau PD

A Hempstead man was arrested after police say he drove a stolen car into multiple parked cars in East Meadow and then fled officers early this morning.

According to police, officers saw a 2012 Nissan Rogue driving erratically east on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow at 1:06 a.m. The officers tried to pull the car over, but the driver fled south on Newbridge Road, police said. The car continued driving erratically, and police say it hit a parked car on Bush Street, a second car on Fairview Avenue and a third one on First Avenue.

After hitting the third car, police say the driver, Oscar Ramos Lopez, 18, of Front Street, Hempstead, got out and fled on foot. With the help of K-9 units, police say Lopez was located hiding in an open detached garage on First Street. After a struggle, police say he was placed under arrest.

Police say an investigation showed the car Lopez was driving was reported stolen from Hempstead on Feb. 22.

Lopez is charged with third-degree grand larceny, DWI, second-degree criminal trespassing, three counts of leaving the scene of an incident, resisting arrest and reckless driving. He is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Tuesday.