Man Assaults Nurse, Steals Car With Woman Holding Onto Door: Cops

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A Wainscott man was arrested after he assaulted a nurse and security guards then stole a car and sped off with a woman hanging to the door, police said.

According to Southampton Village Police, on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 9:36 a.m, a call came in from the emergency room at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital regarding an unruly patient who assaulted a nurse and two security guards before fleeing on foot onto Lewis Street and then westbound onto Meeting House Lane.

While on Meeting House Lane, the patient, Napoleon R. Owens Jr., 28, jumped into a stopped 2017 Ford Explorer occupied by a 73-year old woman; she exited the vehicle after a brief interaction with Owens and, while she was holding onto the door of the vehicle, Owens took the vehicle and fled eastbound on Meeting House Lane, with two Southampton Village Police cruisers in pursuit, police said.

Owens headed northbound on North Sea Road and then onto County Road 39 westbound, with officers in close pursuit, police said.

While on Sunrise Highway, Southampton Village Police were joined by members of Southampton Town Police and New York State Police, police said.

The chase continued on Sunrise Highway heading west, where Suffolk County Police joined by deploying a spike strip, police said.

Despite losing a tire, Owens managed to continue at a high rate of speed before he ran off the road near Exit 49 when he crashed into another vehicle, police said.

Owens exited the vehicle and fled on foot while attempting to gain access to the vehicles of other motorists before being taken into custody by the Suffolk County Police and New York State Police, authorities said.

The nurse at the hospital and security guards received medical treatment, the owner of the 2017 Ford Explorer was not physically harmed, police said.

On Nov. 5, Owens was arraigned after being charged by Southampton Village Police with third degree robbery, third degree grand larceny, and second degree assault, all felonies, police said.

He was also charged with second degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and third degree unlawfully fleeing, all misdemeanors; and also, two counts of harassment, a violation, and multiple violations of vehicle and traffic law, police said.

Other charges by the Southampton Town Police, NYSP, and Suffolk County Police are forthcoming, police said.

Southampton Village Justice Michael Solomon remanded Owens to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverside in lieu of $25,000 cash bail, police said.

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