On Monday, Sept. 17, at approximately 3:15 p.m., Garden City Police Officer William Petito was on a special traffic post on Franklin Avenue, observing traffic in a school zone, when he observed an auto approaching at a high rate of speed. When Officer Petito attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver refused. Officer Petito then radioed for assistance and followed the vehicle into Hempstead, according to Garden City Det/Sgt Bartkowski.

In the vicinity of Ormond Street, near VanCott, the vehicle got bogged down in traffic near a school that was letting out. At this point, the subject exited the vehicle as Officer Petito got to the driver's door. A struggle ensued as the driver pulled a fully loaded 9 mm handgun from his waistband. During the struggle, the subject jammed the gun into Officer Petito's stomach and attempted to fire it.

When the gun did not fire, Officer Petito was able to disarm the subject, who then broke free and fled. Officer Petito retrieved the weapon and broadcast the direction to other assisting officers. As police searched the area, neighborhood school children pointed out the subject's direction to detectives. The subject was then surrounded and he was finally apprehended when police found him hiding in the rear yard of a local business, Bartkowski said.

The subject was charged with first-degree attempted murder of a police officer, first-degree criminal use of a firearm, first-degree attempted assault, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, several drug charges and several vehicle and traffic law violations.