By Hank Russell
A Middle Island man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempting to kill two Suffolk County police officers.
Brandon Scanlon was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision, after he pleaded guilty in August to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, and related charges, for firing multiple shots at members of the Suffolk County Police Department.
“This significant sentence reflects the serious nature of these crimes. The defendant’s reckless actions – fleeing police, discharging a firearm at officers, and possessing illegal weapons and controlled substances – endangered lives and terrorized our community,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “I commend the brave officers who risked their lives to apprehend this dangerous individual, and I am thankful for their quick thinking and professionalism, which prevented what could have been a tragedy.”
In September 2023, a probe was launched by members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force (EEDTF) into the sale of cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the county. On April 4, 2024, as part of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residential apartment located in Bohemia. It was determined that Brandon Scanlon used the apartment as a “stash house” to store and sell cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
When law enforcement approached Scanlon near the apartment, he retreated into a vehicle carrying a black duffel bag and fled the location. During his flight, Scanlon struck a member of law enforcement twice with his minivan as he drove away from the apartment complex. The officer suffered serious injuries and had to be treated at a local hospital.
Scanlon then led law enforcement on an extended vehicle pursuit through multiple towns in Suffolk County. During that pursuit, Scanlon repeatedly opened fire on officers with his weapon as they attempted to pull him over. No officers were struck during the shooting. Scanlon eventually crashed his vehicle on the Sunrise Highway service road in Bay Shore, where he was finally arrested. Inside Scanlon’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered the .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol used to shoot at law enforcement as well as cocaine and fentanyl. He was arrested at the scene and arraigned on the indictment on August 14, 2024.
On August 19, 2025, Scanlon, 34, pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony.
On October 2, 2025, Scanlon was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
Tierney held a press conference after the sentencing hearing. Suffolk County PBA President Lou Civello expressed his anger at having to learn of another police officer nearly being killed.
“It’s starting to feel a little like Groundhog Day because this is another instance of someone trying to murder a Suffolk County police officer,” Civello said. “And it’s clear there’s an epidemic of violence against police officers that’s being fueled by lax laws in this state.”
Tierney echoed Civello’s sentiments. “This is part of a theme that we’re seeing of lawlessness, of disregard for the safety of others and disrespect of our police officers, which not only makes our police officers less safe, but makes us all less safe,” he said.
Civello said he was “pleased” with the way the case turned out and praised Tierney for obtaining a “sentence over two decades” for what Brandon did. “Again, that’s despite lax discovery laws, despite bail reform, despite all the obstacles that are put in [the DA’s] way. He’s done a tremendous job in this case, but he can’t do it alone.”
Tierney said this case was “a culmination of months of hard, intensive work,” adding that “nobody got hurt because of the professionalism our police. We’re thankful for that, and we’re glad the defendant has been held responsible, not only for drug dealing, but for his attempt to murder a police officer.”
He also disabused the notion that not all drug dealers are violent. “There’s no such thing as a nonviolent drug dealer,” Tierney said. “If you have drugs, if you have a lucrative racket, there will be guns and there will be violence attached to that as they seek to protect their racket and elude capture by police.”