Police: Northport Man Pleads Guilty to Mowing Down Cops, Critically Injuring One

A Northport man who is accused of hitting two Suffolk County cops, critically injuring one, with a stolen vehicle in 2014 has waived his right to appeal and will be sentenced to 25 years in state prison, Suffolk County Police reports.

Chad Morizsan, 35, pleaded guilty to assault, assault on a police officer, leaving the scene of an accident, grand larceny and other charges in Central Islip on Tuesday.

He will be sentenced on Thursday, July 23.

Morizsan was the driver of the 2014 Ford Explorer that struck officer Nicholas Guerrero, who had initiated a traffic stop with fellow Second Precinct Crime Section officer Heriberto Lugo in Huntington on Monday, Sept. 22, police said.

Guerrero was treated for a severe head injury at Stony Brook University Hospital for more than three weeks and Lugo was treated and released.

Read more:

• Police: Northport Men Charged After Mowing Down Cops, Critically Injuring One
• UPDATE: Suffolk Cop Hit By Fleeing Car in Critical Condition

After mowing down the officers, police said Morizsan then stole gas, collided with another vehicle in the parking lot of the gas station and fled to Commack where he carjacked a 2005 Toyota Camry from an 87-year-old woman.

Morizsan and a passenger in the Explorer, Nicholas Franzone, 23, were arrested at the Central Islip Target store hours later when they attempted to buy a television with a stolen credit card, police said.

Morizan was charged with:

• Third degree grand larceny for stealing the Ford Explorer from the Commack area on Sept. 20
• Assault on a police officer for striking Guerrero, causing him serious physical injury
• Leaving the scene of an incident that resulted in serious physical injury for fleeing the scene of the crash
• Petty larceny for stealing gas from a local gas station soon after fleeing the scene of the crash
• Leaving the scene of an incident involving property damage after colliding with another vehicle as he attempted to flee from the gas station where he had stolen the gas
• Second degree robbery for the carjacking of a 2005 Toyota Camry from a Commack resident during his escape
• Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for carjacking the Toyota Camry

Franzone was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for his role in the carjacking incident, police said. He will appear in court on Tuesday, July 14.