Police: Oceanside Man on Drugs Drives Stolen Jeep Over 100 MPH While Fleeing Police

A 26-year-old Oceanside man faces a host of charges after police say an attempted traffic stop for cellphone use turned into a high-speed pursuit Wednesday afternoon.

According to State Police, a trooper from the Farmingdale Barracks initiated a vehicle stop on a silver Jeep Cherokee, later determined to be stolen, on the eastbound Southern State Parkway near Exit 28A–Route 135–at about 12:01 p.m.

The driver of the Jeep, Michael Kessler, refused to stop and led the trooper onto southbound Route 135, reaching speeds of over 100 mph, police said.

Kessler then exited onto Sunrise Highway, where he proceeded to drive eastbound in the westbound lanes, police said.

Several motorists then began waving over the pursuing trooper when they saw Kessler exit the Jeep while it was still in motion, police said. The unoccupied Jeep struck a vehicle near Jackson Avenue.

Kessler attempted to flee and ran through St. William the Abbot School on Jackson Avenue in Seaford, police said.

Once back outside, Kessler was found in the vicinity of the accident scene, where he was apprehended by troopers after a brief foot pursuit, police said.

The Jeep Kessler was driving was determined to have been stolen earlier in the day. According to police, Kessler entered Oceanside School 8 on Fulton Avenue and took the keys to the Jeep.

Kessler is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, second degree reckless endangerment, fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, driving while ability impaired by drugs, criminal trespass, unlawful possession of marijuana and several traffic violations.

He was due to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Thursday.