Police: Man Suspected in Fraud Leads Cops on Car Chase

A man accused of fraud and identity theft at a Palisades Center mall department store led police officers on a car chase through West Nyack Wednesday afternoon that ended with a crash in Valley Cottage, according to Clarkstown police.

No one was seriously injured in the crash and police said this morning they are still trying to confirm the identity of the 39-year-old man they arrested at Old Mill Road and Kings Highway in Valley Cottage.

Police said the incident began about 3:50 p.m. Wednesday when they were investigating a fraud complaint involving stolen credit cards at the Target department store in West Nyack. A man sought in connection with the credit cards refused to stop for police and led them on a chase through back roads of West Nyack.

The chase ended when the driver being sought by police ran a stop sign at Old Mill Road and Kings Highway and struck another car. Police said the driver being chased sustained minor cuts and bruises and refused medical attention. No one was injured in the car that was struck, police said.

The 39-year-old man arrested is being held by Clarkstown police in New City on charges including reckless endangerment, forgery, criminal possession of a forged instrument, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, identity theft, resisting arrest and unlawfully fleeing from police. He also faces a variety of vehicle and traffic violations related to the chase.

The chase and crashed closed Old Mill Road to traffic for part of the afternoon.