By Michael Morton
The patrolman, Sean Abrams of Highway Unit 3 in Hollis, returned fire, police said, but no one was injured.
The two men were identified by the DA's office as Robert Mayo, 34, of 134-32 227th St. in Laurelton and Patrice Brooks, 30, of 119-16 200th St. in St. Albans. They fled on foot from their car but were soon captured, police said.
Brooks and Mayo were arraigned Sunday in Queens Criminal Court and were scheduled to return to court April 13. Mayo is being held on $250,000 bail and Brooks on $100,000.
In addition to attempted murder, the men are charged with criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, the DA's office said. A search of their car revealed four tires with rims inside, leading to the charges of larceny and possession of stolen property, according to the DA.
If convicted of attempted murder, Brooks and Mayo face up to 25 years in prison. Brooks was already wanted on possession of stolen property and burglary, while Mayo has a record for robbery and burglary, police said.
Neither man's family could be reached for comment, and their lawyers did not return calls.
Before firing shots, Brooks and Mayo led Abrams on a chase that began at 5:27 a.m. on the Cross Island Parkway near Hillside Avenue, the criminal complaint filed by the DA's office said. In his statement to the DA's office, Abrams said he was checking the speed of vehicles on the southbound side with a radar gun, when a 1991 Toyota Celica driven by Brooks sped by going 87 mph in a 50 mph zone.
Abrams pursued the car, but after leaving the parkway Brooks ran several red lights and drove on the wrong side of a two-way street, the criminal complaint said. Brooks finally stopped the car at 218th Place and Hempstead Avenue but slammed on the brakes, causing Abrams' cruiser to strike the Toyota, it said.
Brooks and Mayo got out of the car, and Mayo fired a shot from a handgun at Abrams, the DA said. As the men fled on foot, Mayo allegedly fired again, Brown said. It was unclear when Abrams shot back.
Police captured Mayo and Brooks a short distance away. Abrams told the DA in his statement that Mayo and Brooks admitted to him that they had earlier removed the four tires from another car. The owner of the car told police the men did not have permission to do so, Abrams said.
The plates on the Toyota also did not match up with the car's description, police said.
Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by calling 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
