Caught in the act Police officer puts a stop to road-rage attack

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      Police said that Quincy Homere, 18, of 764 Prospect St., was driving his 2002 Mitsubishi Galant aggressively as he headed westbound on Sunrise Highway shortly after 6 p.m. on July 23. After Homere cut off another vehicle, he had an altercation with the driver, and struck the man repeatedly with a hammer. But an off-duty police officer, Steven Cates of the Fourth Precinct, witnessed the incident and prevented a situation that could have turned deadly, police said.
       Homere and a friend in another car, a white Acura, were traveling fast toward Grand Avenue when they both cut off a van driven by William Carberry, 44, of East Rockaway, almost causing a serious accident. When the three cars reached the stoplight at Sunrise and Grand, Carberry, apparently annoyed after being cut off, got out of his vehicle to confront one of the drivers about their reckless driving.
      But Homere got out as well and became belligerent, according to police, brandishing a chisel-headed mason's hammer, and bludgeoning Carberry in the face and back.
      It was then that Cates -- who was traveling behind the van -- exited his vehicle and drew his service weapon, stopping the assault. Cates called for assistance from his cell phone, and additional Fourth and First Precinct officers responded and arrested Homere.
      "It all happened very rapidly," said Lt. Andrew Fal of the First Precinct. "[Homere] could have killed him."
      Carberry was taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital, where he was treated for severe contusions and lacerations to his chest, back and face. He has since been released. Homere was charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead.
      Fal explained that whatever Carberry's intentions were, people should resist the urge to confront belligerent or reckless drivers. "Everybody is crazy nowadays," Fal said.