LI Man With Violent Past Intentionally Hits Patrol Car: Police

CARLE PLACE, NY — There was an attempted assault on a police officer in Carle Place, authorities said.

Officers were investigating Peter Centeno, 42, of Hicksville, for an open Nassau County bench warrant, police said.

He was located just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in a 2023 Chevy Malibu behind the Holiday Inn on Old Country Road in Carle Place, police said.

While police were investigating, Centeno is accused of intentionally driving his vehicle into the unmarked patrol car. He attempted to strike the officer who exited the car. Centeno went into reverse and sped up going forward as he hit the officer, police said.

The officer fired his weapon. After refusing to comply with verbal commands, officers attempted to remove Centeno from his car, authorities said.

He intentionally accelerated again at the patrol car, crashing into it and causing the vehicle to become inoperable, police said.

Centeno fled westbound on Old Country Road. Shortly after, he was located and apprehended on Douglaston Parkway in Queens. He was arrested without further incident.

Centeno and the officers were taken to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment.

He was charged with first-degree attempted assault, second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree menacing and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Centeno was arraigned on Wednesday. He has five prior arrests for various crimes, including violent felonies, police said.