Duo Facing Weapon, Drug Charges After Fleeing Traffic Stop: NCPD

OCEANSIDE, NY — Two Nassau men were arrested Wednesday night after police say they fled a traffic stop, and officers then found weapons and drugs in their car.

According to police, officers saw a white 2013 BMW 328i heading north on Austin Boulevard in Island Park around 5:30 p.m. and tried to pull it over. The car did not stop, police say, and the driver fled from officers, committing multiple traffic violations in the process.

Officers followed the car, police said, and later found it parked near the intersection of Harvey Avenue and Oceanside Parkway. Police say they found the driver — Bruce Rodgers, 29, of East Pine Street, Long Beach — and his passenger — Patrick Hood, 24, of Newbridge Road, Hicksville — walking nearby and placed them under arrest.

After the arrest, police say they found a semiautomatic handgun and multiple drugs in the car.

Rodgers is charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, fifth- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and multiple traffic infractions.

Hood is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, fifth- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana, second-degree criminal contempt and a traffic infraction for not wearing a seatbelt.

Both men are scheduled to be arraigned later today.