Police: Pair ID'ed as Suspects Who Ran Over Suffolk Cops, Critically Injured One

SCPD Photos: Chad Morizsan (L) and Nicholas Franzone

Two Northport men have been identified as the suspects in Monday’s hit-and-run in Huntington that critically injured a Suffolk County cop.

Chad Morizsan, 34, of 1 Ridings Gate, was the driver of the 2014 Ford Explorer that struck Nicholas Guerrero, who had initiated a traffic stop with fellow Second Precinct Crime Section officer Heriberto Lugo on Partridge Lane at about 1:35 p.m., police said.

A passenger in the Explorer, Nicholas Franzone, 22, who also lives at 1 Ridings Gate, was also arrested at the Central Islip Target store following a massive police search for the pair Monday afternoon.

Police say Morizsan is charged with:

• Third degree grand larceny for stealing the Ford Explorer from the Commack area on Sept. 20
• Assault on a police officer for striking Guerrero, causing him serious physical injury
• Leaving the scene of an incident that resulted in serious physical injury for fleeing the scene of the crash
• Petty larceny for stealing gas from a local gas station soon after fleeing the scene of the crash
• Leaving the scene of an incident involving property damage after colliding with another vehicle as he attempted to flee from the gas station where he had stolen the gas
• Second degree robbery for the carjacking of a 2005 Toyota Camry from a Commack resident during his escape
• Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for carjacking the Toyota Camry

Franzone is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for his role in the carjacking incident, police said.

The Suffolk County Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office continues to investigate the incidents and further criminal charges are expected to be forthcoming, police said.

Morizsan and Franzone were held overnight at the Second Precinct and are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Guerrero, 36, is currently in critical condition in Stony Brook University Hospital’s Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, police said. Lugo was also taken to Stony Brook, where he was treated and released, police said.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed these incidents or has further information to contact the Vehicular Crime Unit at 631-852-6555 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Related:

Suffolk Cop Hit By Fleeing Car in Critical Condition