By:Jenn Abelson
State police arrested three East Rockaway teenagers early Saturday morning on felony charges of impersonating police officers while the suspects cruised on the Meadowbrook State Parkway, authorities said.
The three youths and a fellow Long Beach suspect allegedly used flashing red and blue lights and a public address system to pull over at least one car on the parkway and made attempts to force others to pull over, according to State Trooper Brian Augustine.
Police pulled over the suspects in a white 1985 Ford Taurus at 2 a.m. after receiving reports that the driver and passengers were harassing motorists.
East Rockaway residents Nicholas Curiale, 19, Frank Pampino, 19, and Juan Munoz, 18, and John Prelesnick, 18, of Long Beach, were arraigned Saturday on charges of first-degree criminal impersonation in First District Court in Hempstead.
Criminal impersonation in the first-degree is a Class E felony, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. The four suspects pleaded not guilty; they each posted $3,000 bail and were released. They were back in court Tuesday for a conference to make sure the charges rose to the felony level, according to Rick Hinshaw, spokesperson for Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon.
The charges were upheld and their next court date is scheduled for Aug. 20. Pampino's lawyer, Brian McKenna, declined to talk about his client's case. None of the other lawyers could be reached for comment.
State police investigator Michael Harris said the investigation is ongoing and urges anyone who was possibly pulled over under similar circumstances to contact state police at (516) 561-8883.
