Police: Inwood Man Hit Cop with Car, Arrested After Pursuit

An Inwood man was arrested Friday night after a routine traffic stop allegedly led to a pursuit during which the defendant hit a uniformed police officer with his car.

According to Nassau detectives, 26-year-old Robert Robinson was observed by First Precinct police officers driving a 1998 Buick westbound on Jerusalem Avenue in Uniondale while talking on his cell phone without a hands free device. Robinson also made numerous lane changes without signaling.

Police eventually pulled Robinson over on Jerusalem Avenue in Hempstead. While conducting the stop, officers noticed a clear plastic bag containing what appeared to be cocaine in the center console, police said.

When Robinson was asked to exit the vehicle, police said he placed it into drive and struck an officer.

Robinson's vehicle continued forward and hit an unoccupied 1999 Jeep that was parked on the north side of the road, causing the Jeep to leave the roadway and strike a street sign, police said.

The officer who had been struck attempted to remove Robinson from the vehicle, but police said he accelerated again, throwing the officer from the car.

Robinson fled the scene in the vehicle which police said he eventually abandoned on Angevine Street in Hempstead.

Witnesses observed Robinson fleeing on foot westbound on Cruikshank Avenue and throwing an unknown object into the front yard of a residence there, police said. An extensive search was conducted and the defendant was seen walking southbound on South Franklin Avenue.

After a foot pursuit, officers attempted to arrest Robinson who police said refused to be handcuffed. A violent struggle ensued and with the assistance of numerous officers, the defendant was placed into custody.

The injured police officer was removed to an area hospital where he was treated and released for an injured right knee.

Police recovered two bags containing what appeared to be cocaine and marijuana from the driveway of a Cruikshank Avenue residence and a bag   containing what appeared to be cocaine from the defendant’s vehicle.

Robinson was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, assault in the second degree, resisting arrest, tampering with physical evidence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an auto accident with property damage and numerous violations of the vehicle and traffic law.

He will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Saturday.