Man Leads Cops On Chase Across Long Island; 3 Officers Hurt After Arrest: Police

A 47-year-old man faces a host of charges after he led police on a chase across Long Island early Saturday and then assaulted officers once he was arrested, Nassau Police say.

According to police, an officer was canvassing Uniondale after he received a call for a unspecified crime. At 12:03 a.m., he saw a 2001 Honda Odyssey in the parking lot of 1220 Front Street which matched the description of the car police were looking for.

When the officer approached, police say the driver, Joel Legette, of Roosevelt, fled the scene. The officer gave chase and followed Legette onto Hempstead Turnpike, police say, trying to pull him over.

Legette drove into East Meadow, police say, where he collided with a fence but kept going. He drove eastbound on Hempstead Turnpike through East Meadow, Levittown, Bethpage and Farmingdale before crossing over into Suffolk County, police say.

After crossing counties, Suffolk Police assisted as police say Legette started to drive through Wyandanch, Deer Park and Brentwood. In Brentwood, police say Legette drove northbound onto Grant Avenue, where he crashed in a wooded area and finally stopped. Officers surrounded the car and told Legette to get out. When officers approached, police say Legette started resisting arrest by kicking and flailing his arms. However, officers were finally able to get him under control and under arrest.

After an investigation, it was determined that Legette was not involved in the Uniondale crime police initially tried to pull him over for. But police say Legette had a small plastic bag containing a greenish-brown leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

During his arrest processing, police say Legette was taken to the bathroom. Afterward, he refused to return to his cell and started violently punching officers and flailing his arms, police say.

According to police, it took six officers to restrain him and return him to his cell. Three of the officers suffered injuries to their head, neck, wrist and legs. They were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Legette is charged with three counts of assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of marijuana, two counts of second-degree obstructing governmental administration and numerous vehicle and traffic law violations. He is scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Sunday.

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