Allegedly Took Part in High-Speed, 15-Mile Chase with County Deputies
A Mastic Beach man was indicted for allegedly causing five crashes during a police pursuit that spanned approximately 15 miles on Sunrise Highway and Montauk Highway in June and allegedly driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Because the offenses were not bail-eligible, he was released without bail after the indictment.
On June 27 at approximately 12:25 a.m., Vladimir Alonzo was allegedly driving a 2022 Ram 3500 eastbound on Sunrise Highway at more than 100 miles per hour near Exit 50. The excess speed caused a deputy with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office to initiate a traffic stop.
Alonzo allegedly pulled over on the shoulder near Exit 52. When the deputy got out of his car and attempted to approach the defendant’s vehicle, Alonzo allegedly sped off eastbound, weaving in and out of traffic before swerving off the roadway at Exit 57S. The defendant allegedly hit a street sign and drove through residential yards located on the South Service Road.
From there, Alonzo allegedly turned south on Yaphank Avenue, proceeded through a red light at the intersection of Montauk Highway and crashed into a telephone pole.
Alonzo then allegedly continued to flee in his crashed vehicle westbound on Montauk Highway before deputies were able to box him in. Once boxed in, Alonzo then allegedly rammed his truck into one of the deputies’ vehicles and continued to flee eastbound on Montauk Highway at excessive speeds. The reckless nature of Alonzo’s driving caused several other vehicles to be pulled off the roadway to avoid being struck.
During the pursuit, Alonzo allegedly went through a red light at the intersection of Montauk Highway and William Floyd Parkway, where he struck a 2026 Toyota Sienna with two occupants, causing the minivan to spin and then overturn. The two victims were transported to NYU Langone Suffolk Hospital, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and later released.
Despite the crash, Alonzo allegedly fled southbound on William Floyd Parkway for several miles before making a U-turn through the grass median and continuing northbound. Alonzo then allegedly attempted to make a right-hand turn at a high rate of speed but went off the roadway and crashed into the side of a CVS Pharmacy located at the corner of Havenwood Drive East.
The vehicle became disabled after it got wedged between a pillar and the building. At that point, deputies rushed to the vehicle and located Alonzo in the driver’s seat. Open alcohol containers were allegedly found inside the vehicle.
Alonzo, 23, was arrested at the scene. Further investigation revealed that the defendant was driving with an expired license.
On August 14, Alonzo was arraigned on an indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas for the following charges:
- Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, a Class D felony
- Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, a Class D felony
- three counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, Class A misdemeanors
- Assault in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor
- Unlawful Fleeing From a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor
- Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting – Personal Injury, a Class A misdemeanor
- two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, unclassified misdemeanors
- Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor
- Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs or of Alcohol and Any Drug or Drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor
- Operating a Motor Vehicle without a Valid License, a traffic infraction
- Illegal U-Turn, a traffic infraction
- three counts of Speeding, traffic infractions
- three counts of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, traffic infractions
- three counts of Failing to Stop at a Traffic Control Device, traffic infractions
- Failing to Maintain Lane, a traffic infraction
Goglas ordered Alonzo’s driving privileges suspended and placed him on supervised release without bail. The charges are considered non-bail-eligible under current New York State law.
“The defendant allegedly drove more than 100 miles per hour through residential neighborhoods, ran red lights, fleeing from law enforcement, driving through people’s yards while intoxicated, leaving two wrecked vehicles behind him and under New York’s ridiculous bail laws, my prosecutors cannot ask for bail,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “It is a miracle, and a matter of pure luck, that no one was seriously injured or killed in this reckless 15-mile-long ordeal.”
Alonzo is due back in court on September 25 and faces two and one-third to seven years in prison if convicted on the top count.