Woman's Car Catches Fire After Driving High, Striking Cop Car: PD

A Queens woman was arrested Tuesday night after police say she was driving while high on drugs and crashed into a police cruiser in Inwood.

According to police, officers were conducting a traffic stop in the parking lot of a Mobile gas station, located at 605 Burnside Ave. in Inwood, shortly before 11 p.m. During the stop, police say that Marsha T. Ellis, 34, of 137th Avenue in Rosedale, drove her 2014 Audi into the parking lot and struck the rear of the police cruiser.

Police say the crash caused Ellis's car to catch fire. Police officers managed to pull Ellis from her car, and the Inwood Fire Department responded and quickly put out the fire.

One officer suffered neck, back and shoulder pain as a result of the crash, and was treated at a local hospital. Ellis and another officer were also taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

After an investigation, police say they determined that Ellis was driving while under the influence of drugs and placed her under arrest. Police say their investigation also revealed that Ellis had stolen an iPhone from a local store earlier in the day.

Ellis is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, driving while ability impaired by drugs, third-degree assault, fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana and nine vehicle and traffic law violations. She is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Wednesday.

Photo: Nassau County Police Department