53°
The incident happened at around 7:40 p.m. Sunday, March 12, in Westbury, at the Target located on Corporate Drive, according to Nassau County Police.
Detectives said Quamike Stephenson and Ronald Jiles-Ais, both age 24 and both of Brooklyn, walked into the store and placed two infant car seats in their shopping carts. They then brought the items to the customer service counter and allegedly tried to return them for a refund.
When an employee denied the return, Stephenson and Jiles-Ais left the store with both car seats without paying for them, according to police. They allegedly got into the backseat of a parked Tesla driven by 22-year-old Malique Wilson, of Brooklyn.
The store’s security team contacted police, who saw the stolen merchandise in the vehicle. When they attempted to speak with Wilson, he got out and took off running on foot, police said.
As officers chased him, Wilson got back into the car and attempted to drive away, according to police. As he did so, an officer jumped into the passenger side door and was seen dangling out of the vehicle as Wilson allegedly continued driving, striking three other cars, including a police vehicle.
Wilson then got out and fled on foot again, police said. He was found a short time later hiding in the back of a dump truck and was arrested without incident on the following charges:
- Criminal possession of stolen property - fifth degree
- Obstructing governmental administration - second degree
- Resisting arrest
- Unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle - third degree
- Leaving the scene of incident with property damage
- Criminal mischief - second degree
- Reckless endangerment - first degree
- Attempted assault of a police officer
At the time of his arrest, Wilson had an open warrant with the NYPD for criminal possession of a weapon, issued in December 2022, police said.
Stephenson also ran from police and was arrested without incident a short time later in a nearby parking lot, police said. He is charged with:
- Petit Larceny
- Resisting Arrest
Jiles-Ais was taken into custody after officers found him in possession of three fraudulent driver’s licenses, police said. He is charged with:
- Petit Larceny
- Three counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument - second degree
All three suspects were scheduled to be arraigned Monday, March 13, at First District Court in Hempstead.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Brentwood and receive free news updates.
