Man With 5 Open Warrants Drove In Oncoming Traffic To Flee: NCPD

An Elmont man was arrested for reckless endagerment on Saturday afternoon after police say he drove into oncoming traffic while fleeing police after a traffic stop.

According to police, officers saw a white 2014 Mercedes Benz with a defective headlight driving north on Franklin Avenue in Elmont around 2 p.m. on Saturday. The officers pulled the car over, and as part of the investigation, the driver got out of the car. After they did, the passenger, Deval Rhodes, 27, of Renfrew Avenue, slid over to the driver's seat, police said. Police said he refused to listen to their orders and then drove away, nearly hitting an officer as he did.

Police say Rhodes drove away dangerously and into oncoming traffic on Franklin Avenue. He eventually came to a stop near Nassau Boulevard and Park Avenue in Garden City Park and got out of the car, police said, where he was placed under arrest.

An investigation found that Rhodes was in possession of eight forged credit cards, four forged $20 bills and marijuana.

Rhodes is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, four counts of first-degree possession of a forged instrument, 8 counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument, unlawful fleeing of a police officer, third-degree unlawful possession of personal identification information, reckless driving, fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana and 25 vehicle and traffic law violations. Police say Rhodes also had five open warrants in Nassau County. He was arraigned on Sunday in First District Court in Hempstead.

The driver of the car when it was first pulled over was issued a summons for a defective headlight.

Photo courtesy Nassau County Police Department