Nassau Teen Injured Officer, Broke Into Home While Fleeing: NCPD

A Hempstead man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police say he was found to be driving a stolen car and then fled police officers.

According to police, around 3 p.m., Hempstead police officers saw Laron Watts, 18, of Hudson Place, driving a car that was reported stolen in Port Washington. The officers followed Watts and attempted to pull him over, police say. While at West Columbia Street and Morrell Street, the officers pulled up alongside Watts and motioned for him to stay parked, police said. However, Watts drove off and hit the officers' car, police say, injuring one officer. A short time later, the car was seen on Stevens Avenue and the officers began searching the area.

Police say that Watts had broken into a home on Stevens Avenue and was confronted by a resident, who demanded he leave. Police say that Watts at first refused to leave, but saw officers approaching the home and then fled out a side dire. The officers saw him, police said, and gave chase. After a brief foot chase, Watts was placed under arrest.

Watts was charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, leaving the scene of an accident with an injury and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

During his arrest, police say they found Watts to be responsible for other, unrelated crimes. He was additionally charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and second- and third-degree identity theft. He is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy Nassau County Police Department