What started as a daytime shopping trip in a Port Jefferson Station parking lot ended with a violent purse-snatching, a 90 mph police chase and a crash that sent both the accused robber and his alleged victim to the hospital, prosecutors say.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Thursday, March 5, that a Mount Sinai man has been indicted after he allegedly dragged a 64-year-old shopper by her purse, then tore off across central Long Island with officers in pursuit. Authorities say the suspect ultimately crashed and reportedly injured himself, while the woman was treated at Stony Brook University Hospital. The defendant is due back in court March 23 and faces felony charges that prosecutors say could carry up to 15 years in prison.
Indictment and Charges
According to PIX11, Suffolk County prosecutors have indicted 53-year-old Mark Callahan on one count of second-degree robbery and one count of unlawful fleeing in connection with the February 18 incident. The DA's office, as reported by PIX11, alleges Callahan dragged the woman by the strap of her pocketbook in a shopping center lot, then sped away from officers in a vehicle.
PIX11 also reports that Callahan was ordered held on $250,000 cash bail, a $500,000 bond, or a $2,500,000 partially secured bond, and is scheduled to return to court on March 23.
The Alleged Robbery and Arrest
Suffolk County police say the attempted theft unfolded around 12:55 p.m. in the parking lot at 5125 Nesconset Highway. A department press release cited by TBR News Media states that a man driving a 2001 Chevrolet SUV got out of the vehicle and grabbed a woman’s purse as she shopped.
According to TBR News Media, the woman held onto the pocketbook briefly as the suspect climbed back into the SUV and tried to drive away. Police say she was dragged a short distance before letting go.
Officers later located the vehicle and arrested Callahan after a crash. Reporting from LongIsland.com notes that Callahan sustained self-inflicted stab wounds and was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital.
Chase and Crash Details
Prosecutors allege Callahan did not simply leave the scene, but led officers on a high-speed pursuit that at times topped 90 miles per hour before the SUV left the roadway. The vehicle then plowed through a snow embankment and hit another car in a parking lot, according to PIX11.
Officials say police recovered the victim’s pocketbook after the arrest. The entire sequence of events, from the parking lot confrontation to the crash, is now laid out in the indictment presented earlier this week.
What's Next and How to Help
Detectives with the Sixth Squad are still piecing together the afternoon’s timeline and are asking anyone who may have witnessed the robbery or the chase to contact the squad at 631-854-8652, TBR News Media reports.
As the case moves forward in county court, it remains a criminal accusation. Callahan is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, and prosecutors say they intend to pursue the charges under New York law.
Legal Implications
Robbery in the second degree and unlawful fleeing in New York are felony offenses that can bring substantial prison time. Prosecutors say Callahan faces a potential maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted. The indictment highlights the DA's stated focus on prosecuting alleged property crimes that prosecutors say place bystanders at serious physical risk, and the case is expected to continue through the Suffolk County court system in the coming weeks.
