Queens Man Arraigned After South Shore Chase

Leads cops on 80 M.P.H. chase from Oceanside to Malverne

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that James Cerreto, 35, of Whitestone, has been arraigned and charged with multiple crimes after leading police on a high-speed chase from Oceanside to Malverne moments after officers attempted to arrest him for violating an order of protection at the corner of Weidner Avenue and Lawson Boulevard in Oceanside.

Cerreto was arraigned Sunday, May 4, before District Court Judge Valerie Alexander. He was charged with Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer in the Third Degree, and Resisting Arrest. Bail was set at $60,000 bond or $30,000 cash. He faces a maximum of four years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Police attempted to apprehend Cerreto at his scheduled child visitation after his estranged wife, who has an order of protection against him, said that Cerreto had been sending her harassing text messages and calling her directly for reasons unrelated to visitation with their child. Any other contact is a violation of the order of protection and she requested Cerreto be arrested.

Rice said that Cerreto was sitting in his parked 2007 Dodge Charger before his visitation on Weidner Avenue and Lawson Boulevard in Oceanside when a police officer approached his vehicle and asked him to step out of the vehicle. Cerreto asked if he was being arrested, and refused to exit the vehicle, police said. Moments later, the chase began with Cerreto pulling onto Lawson Boulevard, narrowly missing the officer.

Police pursued Cerreto as he drove north on Lawson Boulevard at a high rate of speed in an attempt to evade the officers through Oceanside and then Rockville Centre. Rice said Cerreto put other motorists at risk throughout the chase, even careening into oncoming traffic while northbound on Ocean Avenue at Peninsula Boulevard, a six-lane road. He was eventually stopped on Ocean Avenue in Malverne and needed to be subdued by several officers to be handcuffed, said Rice.

“Had Mr. Cerreto obeyed the police officer, he would not be in the situation he now finds himself in,” Rice said. “By running, he endangered the lives of police officers, fellow motorists, and innocent bystanders.”

Cerreto is currently on probation for a Menacing conviction stemming from a June 16, 2007 incident, and is currently awaiting trial on a Feb. 2, 2008 arrest where he was charged with Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree and Harassment in the First Degree. Both cases are related to the order of protection against him by his estranged wife.

Assistant District Attorney David Arias of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Cerreto is being represented by William Jaye, Esq.

The charges against Cerreto are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.