Nassau County Cops Honored For Taking Down Murder Suspect After Brooklyn Chase
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Several Long Island police officers were honored for subduing a murder suspect after a high speed chase ended in a fiery Brooklyn blaze.
Surveillance video showed the fleeing suspect plowing into a gas pump and another car on Pennsylvania Avenue. The driver then leaped out and tackled a pursuing Nassau County officer.
Other officers quickly moved in to taser and arrest the enraged suspect.
"In this case, the police officers made a conscious decision to not fire their weapons because there were innocent civilians in the field of fire," acting Nassau County Police Commissioner, Thomas Krumpter said.
Five responding officers stood proudly at county offices in Mineola on Tuesday, as they were each handed an award for their bravery and awareness in a chaotic situation that threatened their own lives.
"Often, police officers in this country are criticized for use of force. Today, here in Nassau County, we are recognizing these officers for the significant restrain and good judgement they exhibited," Krumpter said.
The pursuit began on November 4, in Bethpage in Nassau County, when officers were called to the home of Robert Crumb and his wife Maria. Officers found the woman dead inside her bedroom. She'd been stabbed several times in the neck and body. Officers then spotted Robert pulled over on the side of the Southern State Parkway, TV 10/55's Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose explained.
"As officers approached the vehicle they noticed the defendant was covered in blood. The defendant sped away at this point," Krumpter said.
He led police on a 25 mile pursuit through Queens before the fiery end in Brooklyn. The officers could not speak publicly about their actions -- they have to testify at Crumb's murder trial.
Four of the officers received the department's second highest honor, the distinguished service medal.
