Man Reverses BMW, Crashes It Into Vehicle And Bolts In Suffolk: Cops

PATCHOGUE, NY — A man who fled a traffic stop, reversing the BMW he was driving so that it struck another vehicle before taking off on foot with a passenger in Patchogue on Thursday night, was arrested on drug possession charges, Suffolk police said.

Fifth Precinct officers tried to pull over a BMW traveling westbound on Montauk Highway, near Route 112 in Patchogue, on Thursday at around 5:40 p.m., and while at a traffic light just south of Sunrise Service Road, the driver reversed the vehicle and it struck another vehicle, according to police.

Three people in the BMW then bolted foot from the scene, though officers later found Kalithe Bell, 22, of Medford, and Jamie Baer, 19, of Medford, and arrested them, police said.

Bell, who was driving the BMW, was charged with backing unsafely and leaving the scene, according to police.

The third person who fled the scene remains at large, a police spokeswoman said.

The ensuing police investigation spanned several blocks near Medford Elementary School on Route 112, and included multiple patrol units, as well as the K-9 and aviation divisions.

Further information was not released.

Bell was also charged with reckless driving, stemming from an incident on March 1, as well as two counts third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance/narcotics, fourth-degree criminal possession of narcotics, and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, following an investigation, police said.

Baer was charged with reckless driving stemming from an incident on April 18, as well as third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of a controlled substance/narcotics, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, according to police.

Bell's attorney, Natasja Bellinger of West Islip, declined comment. Baer's attorney's information was not immediately available.