By Leslie Gonzalez
The two suspects now face robbery and weapons charges and are being held without bail at Nassau County Correctional Facility in East Meadow.
According to the Fifth Squad, Davon Eason, 19, and Eddie Rush, 20, both from Jersey City, N.J., singled out a Hempstead Avenue home at random at about 1:45 P.M. on Nov. 24. Police said the suspects barged into the house, pointed a .22 caliber revolver at a man and woman inside and demanded the keys to their 2000 Mercedes Benz sports utility vehicle. Mr. Eason then started the vehicle while Mr. Rush forced the victims into the bathroom, authorities said. The suspects then escaped in the Mercedes.
The victims, both of whom police declined to identify, called 911 and a description of the vehicle was broadcast. In response, Fifth Precinct Police Officer Jason Gaertner positioned his patrol car at Central Avenue and the Southern State Parkway, where he observed the vehicle moving westbound toward the Cross Island Parkway. Officer Gaertner then followed the car, with Fifth Precinct Police Officer Richard Grogan joining the pursuit.
According to police, the suspects headed north on the Cross Island Parkway and varied their speed until Bell Boulevard, when they accelerated recklessly to avoid police.
"As they entered New York City Police jurisdiction, our men notified City Police that a pursuit was in action." said Fifth Squad Detective Sergeant James Tilton. Once on the Throgs Neck Bridge, the Mercedes sideswiped another vehicle, resulting in a "fender-bender," and then sped away, police said. Officer Grogan then observed a gun being tossed out of the passenger window of the Mercedes and quickly recovered the weapon.
The chase continued through the tollbooth on the Throgs Neck, until the officers were able to stop the car on the Bruckner Expressway, at Hunts Point Avenue in the Bronx. At that point, the getaway car slammed into four vehicles, injuring five persons, including two city detectives who suffered cuts and bruises when their vehicle was struck in the rear. All of the injuries were described as minor.
"Once stopped, the men offered no resistance and no one was hurt, due to the overwhelming amount of police standing by," said Sergeant Tilton. The two men were arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They were arraigned the following morning at First District Court in Hempstead.
"According to the victims' reports, both men had used handguns to complete the robbery, one of which was recovered at the scene of the arrest," said Sergeant Tilton.
Malverne neighbors were shocked and upset when they learned about the incident.
"The police should inform us of these things," said one female resident of 45 years who declined to give her name.
"I'm absolutely shocked that something like this happened in the neighborhood," said Carol Benes, another neighbor. "I power walk every evening, and I've never thought twice about safety." She added that she will no longer answer the door to strangers.
Prior to the incident, the suspects were wanted by police in New York City and Jersey City for other crimes, officials said. Before entering the Hempstead home, the two men had parked another vehicle, a 1997 Nissan Quest, which had been reported stolen from Jersey City earlier that same morning, at about 8 A.M. Nov. 24, officials said.
Police said additional charges were pending and the investigation was continuing. Another investigation, this one by the Bronx District Attorney for violations made within city limits, will be conducted at a later date, officials said.
