Drugs Found In Nassau Vehicle; Bike Stolen During Arrest: Cops

MANHASSET, NY — A Great Neck man was arrested in Manhasset after police said they found pain pills in a car and the man fled and stole a bicycle when they tried to arrest him.

Around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, officers on routine patrol noticed a suspicious person in a vehicle on Plandome Road, near Bayview Avenue, Nassau County police said. Officers found pills believed to be oxycodone in the vehicle and Jonathan Mata, 24, ran when police tried to arrest him, police said.

He stole a bicycle on Hillside Avenue in an attempt to evade police, but was caught a short time later on Virginia Drive, police said. Authorities found about 110 miscellaneous fireworks in the vehicle as well, police said.

Mata faces charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance, petit larceny, multiple violations of state labor laws concerning fireworks and multiple vehicle violations.

He was expected to appear in court Friday in Mineola.

Mata's arrest comes just a day after state police said he was found with drugs and a large amount of fireworks in Tarrytown and fled on a stolen bicycle.

Around 11 p.m. Wednesday, state troopers stopped a vehicle on Interstate 87 that they said was traveling 93 mph in a 45 mph zone. Mata was driving the car.

Troopers found a large amount of fireworks in the back seat and determined Mata was impaired. A search of the vehicle turned up about 16 grams of concentrated cannabis and pills that were determined to be Alprazolam, Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine, state police said. The drugs were not in their original containers.

Mata fled on foot when troopers tried to take him into custody, troopers said. He was found a short distance away on a stolen bicycle, refusing verbal commands and continuing to resist arrest, police said. He was eventually taken into custody without further incident.

In that case, Mata faces misdemeanor charges of driving while impaired by drugs; unlawfully selling fireworks worth $500 or more, criminal mischief, petit larceny, criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and reckless endangerment of property.

A 17-year old passenger in the vehicle was also arrested and charged with unlawfully selling fireworks valued at $500 or more and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Mata was taken to Nyack Hospital to have his blood drawn for a drug screening. He was released and was expected to appear in Tarrytown court Aug. 5.