LI Man Indicted In Hit-And-Run Death Of Nicki Minaj's Father

MINEOLA, NY — A Mineola man has been indicted in the hit-and-run death of rapper Nicki Minaj's father.

Charles Polevich, 70, is charged with leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality and tampering with evidence, court documents reveal.

In February 2021, Minaj's father — 64-year-old Robert Maraj — was struck by a car while walking along Roslyn Road in Mineola, according to authorities.

Polevich, who splits his time between Mineola and Guam, asked Maraj if "he was ok" as he laid on the road, before getting back in his car and leaving the scene, court records show.

"He was absolutely aware," said Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of Nassau's Homicide Squad. "He got out of his car and looked at (Maraj), and got into his car and made the conscious decision to leave, instead of calling 911, instead of calling an ambulance for the man."

Maraj was eventually taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives were able to locate Polevich, who did not have any prior criminal history, using pieces of surveillance video from the neighborhood that caught Polevich's Volvo before and after it struck Maraj, Fitzpatrick said.

Michael Scotto, the attorney representing Polevich, previously described Maraj's death as a "tragic accident," adding, that his thoughts and that of his client's "are with the Maraj family."

Polevich is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Dec. 8.