Rock throwing spree in South Hempstead ends in attempted murder charges

A Nassau County officer was in stable condition after being stabbed in the abdomen, and three other officers were injured during a violent struggle with Christopher Sargeant, 32, as he was arrested on Sunday afternoon after allegedly throwing rocks at passing cars on Long Beach Road in South Hempstead and at the corner of Weir Street and Long Beach Road in Hempstead.

According to police, when First Precinct officers responded to reports of a mentally-disturbed man pelting passing cars, they saw him get into a 2009 Nissan and flee the scene. They followed the suspect, who refused orders to pull over, to his home at 122 Emery Street in Hempstead and watched as he got out of the car holding a knife. Police said that Sargeant ignored their commands to drop the knife and entered the house. With officers from the Emergency Services Unit in pursuit, Sargeant allegedly tried to keep them from entering the laundry room in which he’d holed up. Police said that Sargeant again refused their commands to drop the knife and that when an officer finally got into the room, he was stabbed during a violent struggle during which Sargeant was taken into custody. Police said they were able to recover a five-inch folding knife that Sargeant had allegedly used.

The wounded officer was taken to Nassau University Medical Center and admitted for non-life threatening injuries: a puncture to his upper right abdominal area and a cut to his left forearm. The three other officers were also taken to NUMC — one with an injured shoulder, another for an injured knee and the third for a laceration to his right hand. They were treated and released.

According to police, their investigation revealed that Sargeant threw a rock that damaged the windshield of a 1999 BMW traveling north on Long Beach Road. Police said that he then went to a residence on Long Beach Road and threw rocks through its two front windows. He is then alleged to have proceeded to Three Star Auto Center, at 353 Long Beach Road in South Hempstead, where police said he threw a brick through its front window, smashed a wooden chair in front of the garage and cut a rope attaching a flag to a flagpole.

Sargeant, who was also taken to Nassau University Medical Center for a mental evaluation, was charged with first-degree attempted murder, three counts of second-degree assault, three counts of third-degree criminal mischief, possession of a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration. He was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead by Nassau County Judge Colin O’Donnell on Monday. No bail was set. Sargeant, who is being represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, was due back in court on Wednesday.