Massapequa Woman Had Front Row Seat For Police Chase that Began in Wantagh

Susan Martin was in the middle of the first sound sleep she'd had in days -- it didn't last long.

Martin, an accountant who lives on Massapequa Avenue in Massapequa, was awoken early Wednesday morning when her front lawn became the end point for of three tire theft suspects that started in Wantagh. 

"They missed a turn and they went up my driveway and onto my lawn," Martin said, of the incident that took place a 3:40 a.m. "It crashed into the fence I share with my neighbor."

Cops were chasing Anthony Baijnath of Queens and two other men. Bryant Francis,  and Angel Feliciano.

Baijnath was charged with grand larceny in the third degree and criminal mischief in the fourth degree.

Francis is being charged with grand larceny in the third degree, two counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, unlawful fleeing of a police officer in the third degree and reckless driving.

Feliciano was also charged with grand larceny in the third degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree and additionally with assault in the second degree, obstructing government administration in the second degree and two counts of harassment in the second degree for allegedly refusing to comply during the arrest procedure by kicking, spitting and struggling with police officers while at the Seventh Precinct station house.

But for Martin, it was a large commotion in the middle of the night.

"It woke the whole neighborhood up," she said. "Luckily it was muddy. The driver tried to back off the lawn, but tires were spinning. They got out of the car and left it running."

That's when cops gave chase. The homeowner heard a gunshot, when one of the officers fired at the driver, who immediately gave up. Officers quickly apprehended another suspect.

"I'm told a K-9 officer got the [third] guy. It was a beautiful dog," Martin said, referring to Officer John Larson's dog "Thunder," who did help catch the last suspect.

Martin said the police search left her trapped in her own home for a while.

"I went outside and the officer told me, 'M'am, this is an active crime scene. Please return to your home,'" she said.

Officers then began a long search for the bullet. "They found it using metal detectors," according to Martin.

In all the excitement of the moment, Martin said she never thought to be afraid.

"It didn't impact me until after the fact," she said. "It was only after thinking about it that I realized it was a dangerous situation."