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Homeless man arrested, officer injured in car chase that led to arrest in Island Park

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A homeless man sent Nassau County police on a wild ride through Island Park on Wednesday when they encountered a stolen vehicle he was driving, leading to a car chase that damaged several vehicles and injured an officer.

According to a release from the Nassau County Police Department, Patrick Hayes, 49, was arrested and faced several charges after the incident.

Police said an officer on routine patrol observed Hayes driving a black 2002 Chevy on Austin Boulevard, which was previously reported stolen by the NYPD. The officer then attempted to pull Hayes over, but he continued to travel southbound on Industrial Place, where he collided with a truck and deliberately reversed his car to hit the police patrol vehicle multiple times, according to the report.

In an attempt to escape, Hayes rammed into multiple parked cars, police vehicles and structures before getting stuck in a fence at 4276 Industrial Pl. in Island Park. When officers caught up with him, Hayes resisted arrest and was eventually placed into custody.

After subduing him, police transported Hayes to Nassau University Medical Center for evaluation. One police officer was injured during the pursuit and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Two other officers were exposed to blood, while another was exposed to Oleoresin Capsicum spray, commonly known as pepper spray.

Hayes was charged with third-degree unlawful fleeing, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, five counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree assault, third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, 12 counts of second-degree criminal mischief, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations.

According to the NCPD, Hayes will be arraigned when he is medically cleared.