Also Faces Indictments for Hitting a Police Car, Then Attempting to Elude Authorities
A Holtsville woman has been indicted for allegedly stealing a car, allegedly robbing a bank, then allegedly smashing into a police car during a high-speed chase to avoid being captured.
On September 4, Nina Cahill allegedly stole a 2007 Toyota Corolla from the valet stand at the Stony Brook University Hospital Emergency Room. Two days later, she drove to a bank in Selden where she allegedly passed a bank teller a note demanding all the money in the teller’s drawer. Cahill allegedly stole approximately $500 from that bank before fleeing the scene.
The following day, September 7, Cahill was involved in two separate high-speed pursuits throughout Suffolk County, including the Long Island Expressway:
- First, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Cahill was driving the stolen car in Lake Ronkonkoma when police spotted her. When a Suffolk Police officer activated his lights to pull her over, Cahill allegedly fled at a high rate of speed. That pursuit had to be terminated for safety reasons.
- Later that same day, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Cahill was again spotted in the stolen Corolla, this time in a parking lot north of the Long Island Expressway near Exit 61. When police attempted to approach her, Cahill allegedly backed out of the parking space – into an unmarked police car – before she sped off toward Exit 61 of the westbound Long Island Expressway. Cahill then exited the LIE at Exit 60 to Express Drive North, reversed direction and then drove against traffic on the westbound lanes until Exit 61, where she re-entered the westbound LIE. She then drove on the LIE until she exited at Exit 58 and then again drove the wrong way on the westbound Express Drive North. At some point, she re-entered the LIE from an exit ramp and continued traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes. Cahill ultimately collided head-on with highway patrol car and then attempted to flee on foot before she was apprehended.
On September 24, Cahill, 42, was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr., for the following charges contained in the indictment:
- two counts of second-degree assault, both Class D violent felonies
- one count of third-degree robbery, a Class D felony
- one count of first-degree reckless endangerment, a Class D felony
- one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a Class E felony
- one count of fourth-degree grand larceny, a Class E felony
- one count of second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor
- one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor
- two counts of third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer, both Class A misdemeanors
- one count of petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor
- two counts of reckless driving, both unclassified misdemeanors
Senft ordered Cahill be held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $1 million partially secured bond, during the pendency of the case. Cahill is due back in court on October 15.
“The defendant allegedly compounded her already serious crimes by recklessly attempting to evade responsibility by fleeing from police. In so doing, the defendant endangered passing motorists and ultimately injured a police officer,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “The defendant will be held accountable for her alleged actions through the broad array of charges contained in this comprehensive indictment.”