Nassau Man Fled Cops, Crashed Into Auto Body Shop: Police

VALLEY STREAM, NY — A Long Beach man was arrested in Valley Stream Tuesday morning after police say he was driving erratically before crashing into an auto body shop.

According to police, officers were on routine patrol in Valley Stream at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday when they saw Travis Whitfield, 25, driving a 2013 Mercedes Benz west on Merrick Road, speeding while weaving in and out of traffic. The officers turned on the lights on their car and tried to pull him over, but police say Whitfield continued to speed down Merrick Road as he fled the officers.

Whitfield eventually crashed into City Auto Body, at 906 West Merrick Road, damaging the building, police said. He fled the scene on foot, but was located with the assistance of helicopters and placed under arrest a short time later.

Whitfield is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in First District Court in Hempstead.