Two Bronx Men Charged in Suffolk Catalytic Converter Thefts After High-Speed Chase

A Maserati SUV carrying four people raced through Lindenhurst and onto the Southern State Parkway at more than 90 mph early Saturday before Suffolk County police flattened its tires with stop sticks, sending two of its occupants sprinting into the woods and leaving one officer with a broken bone requiring emergency surgery, prosecutors said.

Henry Cruz, 25, the alleged driver, and Luis Acosta, 23, a passenger, were taken into custody after a foot chase through the woods. Two other people who had been in the vehicle fled the scene and, as of Sunday, had not been captured, according to Newsday and News 12.

Investigators say the pair stole several catalytic converters in Lindenhurst before police attempted to pull them over, with thefts occurring near East Hoffman Avenue and North Clinton Street, and on 48th Street and 40th Street. News 12 obtained surveillance video from a business near East Hoffman Avenue showing people pulling up to a vehicle and lifting it Saturday morning to remove a converter.

Both men were arraigned Sunday at Suffolk County Criminal Court in Central Islip, where they pleaded not guilty. Judge Bernard Cheng set bail for Cruz at $75,000 cash, a $225,000 bond, or a $750,000 partially secured bond. Acosta's bail was set at $50,000 cash, a $150,000 bond, or a $500,000 partially secured bond. Both are due back in court March 12.

Cruz faces charges of assaulting a police officer, stealing car parts, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and an additional count of unlawful fleeing. Acosta faces the same charges minus the fleeing count.

Prosecutor Sean Lorthioir told Judge Cheng during the arraignment that Cruz "refused to stop, speeding at more than 90 mph," adding: "He has a complete disregard for lawful authority and the safety of others."

News 12 reported that one officer suffered a broken bone during the pursuit and was expected to undergo emergency surgery. Newsday confirmed an officer was hurt but did not specify the extent of the injury. Defense attorneys Chase Brown, representing Cruz, and Pooja Mathur, representing Acosta, both disputed that their clients caused the officer's injury. "We never want to see members of the Suffolk County Police Department get hurt," Brown told Newsday. In court, he added: "There is no indication before us that ... my client caused that injury." Brown also told News 12 that, based on his understanding, the officer allegedly assaulted and the officer with the broken bone are the same person, saying he would review the matter further once discovery is provided.

Prosecutors and Suffolk police did not publicly disclose how officers first became aware of the alleged thefts or how many vehicles were targeted in total. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office is examining whether Cruz and Acosta are connected to additional catalytic converter thefts beyond those identified in Lindenhurst.