Man Pleads Guilty To Vehicular Assault That Seriously Injured Suffolk Police Officer: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Brentwood man pleaded guilty to assault on a police officer and other related charges in connection with the crash that seriously injured Suffolk County police officer Brendon Gallagher, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Thursday.

Cody B. Fisher, 29, admitted to driving while impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and marijuana, speeding, failing to pull over and then crashing into Gallagher, the DA said. The crash caused the officer’s vehicle to flip over and crash into a tree, resulting in serious injury to Gallagher, Tierney said.

"Our community wants to see an end to people treating our shared roadways like personal racetracks," Tierney said in a news release. "It’s by the grace of God that Officer Gallagher was not killed. It is because of cases like this that my office holds defendants to the highest levels of accountability for impaired or reckless driving."

Just before 6 p.m. Jan. 5, Gallagher was conducting a traffic stop of another motorist on the Long Island Expressway between exits 58 and 57, according to court documents. Fisher, driving his 2021 Ford Mustang, sped by Gallagher and revved his engine, prosecutors said.

Gallagher left his traffic stop and attempted to pull Fisher over, authorities said. Fisher fled from the officer, weaving in and out of lanes, reaching speeds up to 100 mph, officials said.

As Gallagher pulled alongside Fisher's car, Fisher hit the police vehicle two times, causing it to lose control, flip on its side, and smash into a tree on the side of the expressway, investigators said.

Gallagher had to be extricated from the vehicle and was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was treated for a torn aorta and abdominal injuries requiring surgery, prosecutors said.

Following the crash, Fisher’s severely damaged vehicle traveled hundreds of feet on the side of the expressway before coming to a stop, authorities said.

When Suffolk County Police arrived, they observed that Fisher had glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet, officials said. Officers also observed a strong smell of burnt cannabis emanating from Fisher’s person and his Mustang, investigators said.

Fisher was placed under arrest and refused to submit to a blood test, officials said. A warrant was issued, and analysis of Fisher’s blood revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.06 percent, as well as
the presence of active marijuana, prosecutors said.

Fisher pleaded guilty Thursday to assault on a police officer; second-degree assault; second-degree vehicular assault; second-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer; driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of a drug or alcohol and drugs; and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, the DA said.

Fisher is due back in court on Oct. 21, and he is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.

He is being represented by Eric Besso and Peter Mayer Jr.