What started as a late-afternoon call about a suspicious car in Yonkers ended with two officers in the hospital and a police cruiser wrecked on a local roadway.
Police say two Yonkers officers were hurt Tuesday around 4:15 p.m. when their marked cruiser collided with another vehicle while they were racing to check out a report of a suspicious car. The caller told authorities the occupants were wearing ski masks and appeared to be casing other vehicles, which brought multiple units into the area. Both officers suffered minor injuries and were listed in stable condition, and officials said no civilians were hurt. Yonkers detectives opened an investigation and were still searching for the suspect vehicle late Tuesday.
Detective Lieutenant Frank DiDomizio told Daily Voice the incident may be tied to an earlier chase in a neighboring jurisdiction. He said the suspicious car was spotted with mismatched license plates and took off as officers moved in. The cruiser that ultimately crashed on the way to assist had its lights and sirens activated, according to DiDomizio, but was not directly involved in the original pursuit.
Yonkers pursuit rules and limits
The Yonkers Police Department’s vehicle-pursuit manual puts public safety ahead of catching fleeing suspects and instructs officers to avoid chases except in narrow circumstances such as violent felonies or ongoing reckless driving, according to the Yonkers Police Department policy manual. Supervisors are required to weigh road and traffic conditions, visibility and the risk to bystanders, and the policy spells out when a pursuit must be called off.
According to Daily Voice, the marked Yonkers patrol vehicle crashed into an uninvolved car on Glen Road while responding to the call. The department said again that no civilians were hurt and that both officers were in stable condition. The suspect vehicle has not been found and remains at large as detectives canvass the area. Police said additional details will be released as the investigation moves forward.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about the vehicle or the people inside it is asked to contact the Yonkers Police Department at 914-377-7900 or submit a tip through the department’s online portal, according to the Yonkers Police Department. The city site also lists other resources and the non-emergency number for reaching investigators working the case.
Officers continue to canvas the neighborhood and review any available video footage as the search for the suspect vehicle continues. This story will be updated when Yonkers Police release more information.
