New Charges For Man Accused Of Slashing Officer On LI: PD

COPIAGUE, NY — The man arrested for slashing a police officer in the face early Tuesday morning in Amity Harbor has been charged with prior crimes, according to Suffolk County police.

Steven Vazquez, 22, of Bay Shore, who slashed the officer while hiding under a vehicle after attempting to steal from cars, has been charged with 16 new counts for crimes he allegedly committed before the slashing incident, police say.

Police said Vazquez has been charged with 10 counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief and six counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle for incidents in East Farmingdale and Copiague between April 18 and May 2.

On Tuesday, police said a 911 caller reported two men attempting to steal from parked vehicles on Gibbs Road, near Coolidge Avenue, in Amity Harbor around 12:26 a.m.

Upon arrival, they arrested Marcello Martinez, 19, of North Babylon, at the corner of East Gibbs Road and Western Concourse while a second man fled on foot, police said.

Shortly after, the officers located Vazquez hiding under a vehicle in front of 11 Gibbs Road, police said.

While trying to free himself from under the vehicle, Vazquez stabbed an officer in the upper right thigh and slashed him in the face, police said.

Police said a tourniquet was applied to the officer’s leg and he was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released.

Vasquez was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, menacing a police officer and fourth-degree grand larceny, police said.

Martinez was charged with possession of burglar’s tools and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, police said.

The two were arraigned on Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip and Vasquez is slated to be arraigned at a later date for the new charges, police said.