Drunk, High Nassau Man Leads Officers On Wild Chase: Police

A man who was driving drunk and high was arrested Friday night after police say he led them on a chase, rammed into multiple patrol cars and nearly injured many officers.

According to police, Kenneth Matson, 52, of Hempstead, was seen by officers sitting in a 2003 Dodge Durango in Baldwin at 8:35 p.m., smoking from a glass pipe. The officers approached the car, and police say Matson threw the pipe onto the floor of the passenger side. The officers attempted to get Matson out of the car, police say, but he locked the doors and rolled up the windows. Matson then drove forward, striking the officers' car, police say, and then reversed and nearly hit the officers. He fled north on Grand Avenue, police say.

At 8:48 p.m., K9 officers found Matson's car parked at the dead end of Sumner Avenue in Merrick. The officers approached the car, and police say that Matson drove towards them, forcing the officers to jump out of the way. Matson then struck several parked cars, trees and two police cars while trying to drive away, police say. He fled south on Meadowbrook Road and was finally arrested on the northbound Meadowbrook Parkway, near Babylon turnpike, after a brief struggle, police say.

Matson was taken to a hospital for treatment of is injuries.

Matson is charged with six counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree unalwful fleeing of a police officer, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, DWI alcohol or drugs (second offense) and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Saturday in First District court in Hempstead.