Mt. Sinai Man Indicted After Dragging Woman During Purse Snatch 'In Terrifying Ordeal': DA

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Mount Sinai man faces upgraded charges in an indictment in connection with dragging a woman from his vehicle as she fought to get the purse that he snatched from her in a "terrifying ordeal," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said Thursday.

Mark Callahan, 53, of Mount Sinai, was indicted on charges including robbery and unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle after forcibly stealing a woman’s pocketbook and fleeing from police officers, the DA said.

Callahan was ordered held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2,500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case.

He faces 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count.

Patch has reached out to his defense attorney, Kathleen Gearrity of the Legal Aid Society.

The society does not normally comment on their cases.

Tierney said the indictment sends a clear message that in Suffolk, his prosecutors "will not tolerate violent acts
that threaten the safety and security of our residents."

"What began as an attempted purse theft escalated into a terrifying ordeal for this victim," he said. "Protecting the
quality of life in Suffolk means holding offenders accountable and ensuring that our community remains a place where families can shop, work, and live without fear.”

On Feb. 18, at around 1 p.m., Callahan was driving through a shopping center parking lot on Nesconset Highway in Port Jefferson while the victim was walking from her car to a nail salon in the same shopping center, and he drove his black Chevrolet Suburban directly up to the woman before jumping out of the driver’s side of the vehicle, prosecutors said.

Callahan grabbed the strap of the pocketbook the woman was carrying, but she would not let go and fought to hold on to her purse, according to prosecutors.

Callahan allegedly climbed back into the driver’s seat of the Suburban, while still holding on to the pocketbook, prosecutors said, adding that Callahan began to drive away while the woman clung to her purse, causing
her to be dragged across the pavement, prosecutors said.

After a short time, she was forced to let go, and
Callahan drove off with her pocketbook, according to prosecutors.

Callahan bolted from police, driving over 90 mph before crashing through a snow embankment into a parking lot, then struck another vehicle before stopping, prosecutors said.

When approached by police, Callahan brandished a knife and stabbed himself 11 times in the abdomen, according to prosecutors.

The woman was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital where she was treated for multiple abrasions to her left leg and arm, and her pocketbook was later recovered by officers along the route of the pursuit, according to prosecutors.

He is due back in court on March 23.