Police ID Man Accused Of Stealing Police Car, Crashing It

A 20-year-old man faces grand larceny and reckless endangerment charges for stealing and then crashing a marked Suffolk Police car Tuesday afternoon, police said.

According to police, Third Precinct officers responded to a 911 call reporting suspicious people in a vehicle parked in front of 1425 Ackerson Boulevard in Bay Shore just after noon. After the arrival of one officer, one of the two occupants in the vehicle, Tayawon Anderson, fled the area on foot, police said.

The officer pursued Anderson on foot, but Anderson returned to the original location and then fled in the police car, which was left running.

Photo via Twitter/Rick Montero

A short time later, approximately two miles away, the car crashed into a wooded area on southbound Sagtikos Parkway, south of Pine Aire Drive. Anderson was arrested at the scene and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip for treatment of minor injuries.

Anderson, of Terrace Road in Bayport, was charged with third degree grand larceny and first degree reckless endangerment. Police are working to determine the identity of the second occupant of the vehicle.

The investigation is continuing and police ask anyone with information about to contact the Third Squad at 631-854-8352 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.