Roosevelt Island Car Chase This Afternoon, PSD Officer Stops Red Bus To Block Recklessly Driven Vehicle And Detain Occupants

This afternoon at about 2:45 I was about to cross the street by Blackwell House heading south when a very fast moving Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) patrol car entered and then stopped suddenly in the turnaround. The PSD car blocked an oncoming northbound Red Bus from continuing to Main Street. A PSD officer jumped out of the car, ran towards the Red Bus with his hands raised shouting for the driver to stop the Red Bus and then ran past the Red Bus to the car stopped behind it.

Several PSD officers shouted orders at the driver and occupant to get out of the car stopped behind the Red Bus. It appeared that the two men in the car did not comply to get out of the vehicle. A PSD officer then broke the car window, removed the occupants, restraining them with handcuff ties behind their back and had them sit next to the car in the snow while being questioned.

After the two men were taken away in a PSD car, I asked the PSD Officers on the scene what happened. They declined to answer. I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Assistant Vice President Of Communications and Government Relations Bryant Daniels:

At about 2:45, PSD was involved in a Main Street car chase which ended with PSD officer stopping Red Bus to block a car from passing in front of the Blackwell Turnaround. When the car stopped, a PSD officer broke the driver’s side window and removed 2 people from the car. I was there to see the end but do not know what happened before that initiated the incident. The driver said they did not stop because they were being chased by an unmarked car and did not know who was in it. What happened?  Any comment from RIOC?

Mr Daniels replied:

Two vehicles were observed engaging in reckless driving on the island at approximately 2:45 p.m. today, including traveling the wrong way on the Cornell Tech loop. One vehicle fled the island; we have alerted NYPD to the incident, and they are on the lookout for the vehicle. PSD detained two individuals from the second vehicle, both of whom are now in custody. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

I followed up asking if there were any arrests and if so, what were the charges.

Will update when response received.

UPDATE 2/10 – Mr Daniels replies:

Charges were reckless endangerment, reckless driving, obstructing government administration.

 The individuals in custody refused to exit the vehicle when ordered by PSD.