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Officers from the Nassau County Police Department attempted to pull over a black Mercedes on Zeckendorf Boulevard after it failed to signal while making a right-hand turn onto Ring Road in East Garden City shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6.
Police said that the officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver - later identified as Rosedale resident Johnny Ortiz, age 23 - refused to stop before crashing near the intersection of Old Country Road with a 2010 Lexus.
After crashing, the passenger, Rosedale resident Kevin Dobson, age 24, attempted to flee on foot, dropping a loaded black handgun on the ground in the process of running away.
Ortiz was taken into custody without incident, while two victims in the Lexus, a 20-year-old man, and his 24-year-old passenger, suffered minor injuries and were transported to an area hospital for treatment and evaluation.
Dobson was apprehended after a short foot chase.
Ortiz was charged with:
- Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon;
- Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon;
- Criminal possession of a firearm;
Dobson was charged with:
- Two counts of criminal possession of a weapon;
- Two counts of criminal possession of a firearm;
- Criminal possession of a weapon;
- Multiple vehicle and traffic violations.
Each was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Friday, Jan. 7. No return court date has been announced.
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