Smithtown Police Blotter: Officer Injured When Man Drives Away During Traffic Stop

SMITHTOWN, NY — Curious about what's going on in your neighborhood? These are recent incidents reported in the Smithtown area from July 21 through July 27.

The Suffolk County Police Department posted the following information. All charges are accusations and do not signify guilt.

Arrest

• July 22: William Perdue, 53, of Smithtown, failed to pull over for a traffic stop on Route 111 in Village of the Branch on July 22, police said. Perdue made a right turn on the left lane through a red light and drove onto the grass, police said. Perdue drove his 2023 Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck in reverse and struck a Suffolk County police vehicle, police said. An officer was trying to get out of the Chevrolet when Perdue drove it in reverse, causing the driver's side door to close on the officer's left leg, police said. The officer fell backward, causing an injury, police said. The officer was taken to a hospital, police said. Perdue was arrested and charged with second-degree assault: with intent to cause physical injury to officer/fireman/EMT/nurse/crossing guard, second-degree criminal mischief and third-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, police said.

Incidents

• July 22: Auto-stripping (third-degree), grand larceny (fourth-degree) and criminal mischief (third-degree) were reported on Third Avenue in Saint James at 4 p.m. A catalytic converter was stolen off a 2023 Volkswagen Beetle parked in a driveway, police said.
• July 21: Identity theft (first-degree) was reported on Avalon Circle in Smithtown at 9 a.m. Someone stole money from someone's credit card account through a cash advance, police said.