Holly MatkinQueens, NY – An alleged car thief who was released without bail under New York’s lax bail policies immediately went out and stole another vehicle, then used it to ram multiple New York Police Department (NYPD) patrol vehicles, according to investigators.
Four NYPD officers were injured during the incident, the New York Post reported.
The suspect, 20-year-old Nicholas Deosaran, was arrested on Oct. 19 in connection with a motor vehicle theft that occurred in Brooklyn on Feb. 26, according to police.
Investigators said the keys to the vehicle had been left inside and that Deosaran drove off with the car, the New York Post reported.
It was not immediately clear how police tied him to the heist, but they tracked Deosaran down on Oct. 19 and arrested him for grand larceny auto.
He was released without bail on a desk appearance ticket and was told to show up for a Nov. 7 court appearance, the New York Post reported.
The following night, at approximately 9:30 p.m., NYPD officers with the department’s Queens South Auto Larceny Unit spotted a 2011 BMW 3 Series that had been reported as stolen traveling through the St. Albans area, according to police.
The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Deosaran, the New York Post reported.
Officers attempted to stop the stolen car, at which point the suspect allegedly tried to flee.
Investigators said Deosaran put the BMW into reverse when he reached the intersection of Bailey Boulevard and Merrick Boulevard, then crashed into an unmarked patrol vehicle with an officer inside, the New York Post reported.
He then allegedly slammed into a second unmarked patrol unit occupied by three more officers.
The four officers were all transported to the hospital with minor injuries and are expected to recover, the New York Post reported.
Deosaran was ultimately apprehended and charged with new offenses of reckless endangerment, two counts of attempted assault on a police officer, two counts of assault on a police officer, grand larceny auto, operating without a license, aggravated unlicensed operator, unauthorized use of a vehicle, obstructing governmental administration, and criminal possession of stolen property.
His girlfriend, who was a passenger inside the stolen car, was taken into custody but later released, according to police, the New York Post reported.
Prosecutors said Deosaran confessed to knowing the BMW was stolen.
“I got the car from my friend, I know the car is stolen, my friend has a shop where they get stolen cars, I use the car to work,” he allegedly told investigators. “They usually put a plate on the car so I can use it for work.”
The judge ordered he be held on $50,000 bail in connection with the case involving the stolen BMW, the New York Post reported.
Deosaran was also charged with a separate petit larceny offense that took place in January, according to police.
He had previously been arrested on June 29 on a criminal possession of stolen property charge after investigators allegedly linked him to two other grand larceny auto cases, the New York Post reported.
Deosaran’s Oct. 20 arrest marked the fifth time he had been arrested for stealing cars so far this year, according to WABC.
Auto theft incidents in New York City are up nearly 36 percent this year versus 2021, and many local residents said their vehicle insurance rates have doubled over the past 12 months, WABC reported.
