Suffolk Man Threw Bottle At Cop, Crashed Vehicle Into Patrol Car: DA

Sep 01, 2023

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Suffolk man has been indicted on charges in connection with throwing a glass bottle at a police officer and then crashing his vehicle into a marked vehicle during a pursuit, District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said.

John Imbasciani, 45, of Mastic, was behind the wheel of a car with he threw a full glass bottle at a uniformed Suffolk police officer, who was standing next to his marked vehicle on Aug. 17, and when the officer pursued Imbasciani, he tried to perform a traffic stop by activating his lights and sirens, but Imbasciani did not stop, according to prosecutors.

A second police officer, also in a marked police unit, then joined in the pursuit, but then Imbasciani intentionally crashed his vehicle into the second police vehicle, prosecutors said.

The crash damaged the patrol car, and the officer involved in the crash was injured, requiring medical attention, according to prosecutors.

It was not immediately clear where the crash took place.

“Protecting our police officers in the performance of their duties is of the utmost importance,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Those that seek to avoid apprehension and endanger our officers will be held accountable.”

Imbasciani's indictment includes two counts of second-degree assault and one count of second-degree criminal mischief, both felonies, and one count of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. He was additionally charged with count each of second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and third-degree unlawful fleeing from a police officer, a misdemeanor.

Imbasciani, ordered held without bail, will appear in court date is Oct. 10.

His attorney, Thomas Spreer of Islip, could not be reached for comment.