Central Islip, NY - October 3, 2018 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the guilty plea of a man who crashed a vehicle into an occupied marked Suffolk County Police vehicle and seriously injured an officer during a snow storm on March 13.
“This defendant tried to evade law enforcement, driving recklessly while under the influence of drugs and putting lives at risk in what were already dangerous road conditions,” District Attorney Sini said. “Because of his actions, a Suffolk County Police officer was injured while doing his duties to protect our roadways. I thank Assistant District Attorney Raymond Varuolo for his work to hold this defendant accountable and I thank all of our law enforcement officers for the sacrifices they make each day to keep us safe.”
“The reckless actions of Mancini Jr. endangered the lives of motorists and seriously injured a Suffolk County Police officer,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. “The officer continues to heal and has not been able to return to work due to his injuries. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks that officers of the SCPD undertake each day to protect our communities. I would like to thank detectives in the Major Case Unit for their work on this case and the District Attorney for ensuring justice is served.”
Louis Mancini, Jr., 30, of West Babylon, pleaded guilty to Assault in the First Degree, a B felony; Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an E felony; and Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, an E felony.
Mancini is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho on November 1.
On March 13 at approximately 11:15 a.m., Mancini stole a 2013 GMC Yukon that had been left running and unoccupied outside of Frank’s Delicatessen located at 1018 Little East Neck Road in West Babylon, N.Y. Mancini was driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Straight Path in West Babylon when he lost control of the vehicle and crossed into the southbound lane.
Mancini crashed head-on into an occupied marked Suffolk County Police vehicle that was responding to the 911 call placed by an employee of the deli to report the stolen vehicle.
The officer was extricated from the vehicle and transported by the North Babylon Fire Department to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. The officer suffered multiple fractures to his left leg and pelvis that required surgery.
A blood test revealed that Mancini had fentanyl and Clonazepam, a sedative, in his system at the time of the crash. Mancini was also operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.
Mancini is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Raymond Varuolo, of the Vehicular Crime Bureau.