Bethpage Man Used Minivan to Pin Pregnant Fiancee to Bridge: Police

A Bethpage man faces several charges after he used his minivan to pin his pregnant fiancee against the wall of a bridge overpass on the Northern State Parkway on Saturday afternoon, State Police say.

According to authorities, Joseph Cirella, 50, was driving a Dodge Caravan eastbound on Northern State, west of exit 32, when his fiancee became frightened of his erratic driving and asked him to pull over so she could get out of the vehicle at approximately 2:22 p.m.

Cirella allegedly refused and a domestic dispute ensued. Police say Cirella tried to push the woman out of the car and onto the roadway. The woman, who is 14-weeks pregnant, eventually escaped out of the car while it was moving and became pinned by the car against a bridge abutment, according to police.

A Trooper noticed the woman frantically screaming while pinned against the vehicle and came to her aid.

Cirella was arrested and charged with second degree assault, third degree criminal possession of a weapon, first degree unlawful imprisonment, second degree reckless endangerment and DWAI Drugs.

He was arraigned in Nassau County First District Court and was held on $20,000 bail/bond.

Image via New York State Police