Assault, Leandra’s Law charges for Uniondale man on Hempstead Turnpike

A traffic accident on Hempstead Turnpike on Sept. 8 led to an assault in which two men from Uniondale were arrested. One of the men, police say, was driving drunk with his 6-year-old daughter in his car.

According to Nassau County police, the auto accident was near 2116 Hempstead Turnpike at 3:30 p.m., just west of the Nassau University Medical Center. Wardell Lyles, of Uniondale, left his car and approached the other vehicle and began to punch the driver, a 36-year-old male. Lyles’s passenger, Stephan Boucarut, 26, also left the car and allegedly began punching the driver, knocking him to the ground.

The victim’s father, 68, tried to aide his son, and was assaulted, police say.

Police arrived on the scene, and the two Uniondale men were put into custody after initially resisting arrest. The 36-year-old victim suffered a severe eye injury, said police, and his father sustained contusions and swelling to his face. Both were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Police report that an investigation at the scene revealed Lyles was operating his vehicle while impaired with his daughter in the backseat. He is charged with second and third degree assault, resisting arrest, aggravated driving while intoxicated (Leandra’s Law), driving while ability impaired by drugs and endangering the welfare of a child.

Boucarut is charged with second degree assault and resisting arrest.

Both men were scheduled to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Sept. 9.