Man Released Under Bail Law Led PD On Chase, Injured Driver: NCPD

A man driving a stolen truck was arrested Tuesday night after police say he led officers on a chase and injured another driver.

According to police, the Hempstead Police Department was investigating a suspicious red pickup truck on Terrace Avenue in Hempstead at 9:30 p.m. The truck had been reported stolen, and the officers tried to pull the driver over.

But police say the driver, Ryan Buonauro, 23, of Noble Street, East Meadow, drove off in a reckless manner. As he was fleeing, police say he drove into a 2007 Toyota 4runner that was stopped at a stop sign at Fenimore Avenue in Uniondale.

Buonauro kept fleeing, police said, and Nassau County officers located the car a short time later on Merokee Drive in Merrick. Soon after, Buonauro was taken into custody.

Police say Buonauro was also responsible from stealing from a car that was parked in Bellmore on Dec. 21.

The driver of the 4runner that was hit suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Buonauro was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, leaving the scene of an accident with an injury, petty larceny, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, reckless driving and multiple traffic violations. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in First District Court in Hempstead.

According to court documents, Buonauro was released from jail on Dec. 31 under the new bail law in New York. He was in jail after not posting bail for two different arrests: one on Dec. 21 and another on Dec. 31, 2019. He was also arrested and released on Jan. 6.

For the Dec. 21 incident, he was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, five counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property (credit cards), second-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle and second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana.

For the Dec. 31 incident, he was charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and third-degree grand larceny.

For the Jan. 6 incident, he was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.