Brooklyn Man Allegedly Hijacks, Crashes Long Island Police Car

By PRISCILA KORB

FREEPORT, LONG ISLAND — A Brooklyn man was arrested after stealing a police car and then crashing it into multiple vehicles on Thursday night, according to the Nassau County Police Department.

Andrew L. Howard, 36, of East 32nd Street in Flatbush, was driving a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan on North Grove Street in Freeport with two women when he was stopped by Freeport Police at about 10 p.m., police said.

During the investigation, officers found that there were two outstanding warrants for Howard’s arrest, police said.

He was handcuffed and placed in the back of a Freeport Police vehicle while the officers continue to speak to the passengers, 39-year-old Dawnfornee Ellison and 41-year-old Yasmeen N. Ellison — both of Kingston Avenue in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn — according to police.

Howard was able to manipulate his handcuffs to allow him to gain access to the driver’s side of the car and then fled in the police car northbound on North Grove Street, police said.

Nassau County Police and Freeport Police found him on Babylon Road in Merrick after he hit multiple cars, according to police.

The officers removed Howard from the car and placed him under arrest, police said.

He was taken to an area hospital for medical evaluation where he being treated for an unrelated medical condition, according to police.

The two passengers were placed under arrest at the original location after a gravity knife was discovered in the Caravan, police said.

Both passengers are charged with one count of third degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to police.

Howard is charged with third degree grand larceny, two counts of third degree robbery, first degree reckless endangerment, third degree criminal possession of a weapon, second degree escape, resisting arrest, third degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer and false personation, police said.

He will be arraigned on Friday.