Crime & Safety

Cops: DWI Suspect Crashes into Patrol Car in Commack

Suspect injured an officer when he rear-ended a patrol car on Jericho Turnpike Thursday.

A man who rear-ended a patrol car Thursday night in Commack, injuring the officer, was driving drunk, police said.

Russell Schaefer, 28, of Mount Sinai, was driving a pickup truck eastbound on Jericho Turnpike near Commack Road at about 9:52 p.m. when he struck a Second Precinct patrol car, according to Suffolk County Police.

The officer, whose name was not released, was slowing down to make a traffic stop when Schaefer's truck hit him, police said.

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According to police, the damaged car was put into service about two years ago to replace the patrol car driven by Second Precinct Officer Glen Ciano, who was when a drunk driver slammed into his car, sending it careening into a utility pole on Vanderbilt Parkway where it burst into flames.

The officer was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Huntington Hospital and released.

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Schaefer was treated for minor injuries at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center and released.

Police said Schaefer was charged with DWI and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Central Islip.


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