Orangetown Police Officer Hurt in Confrontation with 2 Teens in Nyack

An Orangetown police officer suffered multiple injuries Tuesday afternoon in a confrontation with two Haverstraw teenagers who were involved in a dispute with a cab driver in downtown Nyack, according to Orangetown Police.

The police officer sustained injuries to his neck, back, hands and knees as he was attempting to arrest a teenager at about 3:30 p.m. on Main Street.

The incident, according to Orangetown Det. Lt. James Brown, began when a cab driver flagged down the police officer on Main Street because of a fare dispute. The driver told police he had driven two teens from Haverstraw to Nyack, and then they wanted to go to Orangeburg.

The cab driver told police that when he advised the teens the trip to Orangeburg would be an additional fare the teens began to argue with him and demanded their money back. Brown said one of the teens kicked the door of the cab, damaging the vehicle.

Brown said the town officer attempted to arrest the teen who damaged the door. Brown said the teen tried to run away and began to violently struggle with the police officer when he was caught.

Brown said the second teen followed the police officer, jumped on his back and began to punch the officer as he was trying to arrest the first teen. Both teens were taken into custody after a violent struggle, Brown said.

After making the arrests, the officer involved was taken to Nyack Hospital for treatment. He was later released from the hospital.

The Haverstraw teens, one 16 and the other 17, were arraigned in Nyack Village Court and ordered held in the Rockland County Correctional Facility in New City pending a hearing. The teens were not identified by police.

One of the teens was charged with second-degree assault, second-degree attempted robbery, fourth-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest. The second teen is accued of second-degree attempted robbery, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of marijuana.

The incident is still under investigation and police ask that anyone who may have seen the incident to call them at 845-359-3700.