Rockland Man Fights With Trooper After Thruway Stop

SPRING VALLEY, NY — A Spring Valley man was arrested Monday for an earlier incident involving a traffic stop on the Thruway that turned into a chase and struggle. New York State Police said the events began when a trooper stopped a vehicle on the Thruway in Tuxedo at 10:35 p.m. Jan. 13 for a traffic violation.

During the trooper’s interview of the driver, Chaim Surkis, 29, Surkis without warning put his car in gear and tried to flee, police allege. After Surkis crashed his vehicle, state police attempted to place him under arrest and a brief struggle ensued before Surkis was taken into custody. (Sign up for Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts.)

Surkis was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The trooper was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.

On Monday, Surkis was processed at State Police offices in Tarrytown and subsequently charged with:

• Assault 2nd degree; (with intent to cause injury to a police officer); a Class D Felony
• Reckless Driving: Unclassified Misdemeanor
• Reckless Endangerment 2nd ; a Class A Misdemeanor
• Resisting Arrest; a Class A Misdemeanor
• Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd degree; a Class A Misdemeanor
• Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a motor vehicle 3rd; a Class A Misdemeanor
• Criminal Mischief 4th; a Class A Misdemeanor

Image/NYSP

MORE NEWS: Home Invasion; New Animal Shelter; Mysterious Doorbell-Ringer