By Ivan Pereira
Larry D. Barton, 47, of 116-30 Sutphin Blvd., was arraigned on Feb. 19 on 14 different charges, including assault on a police officer, grand larceny and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly ramming an unmarked MTA Dodge Durango into detectives in Jamaica on Feb. 18.The SUV was reported stolen two days earlier from a car wash on Jamaica Avenue, according to the DA.”This case underscores yet again the dangers faced by New York City police officers. There is nothing 'routine' or 'predictable' about a traffic stop,” Brown said in a statement.Three undercover detectives who were investigating the theft of the vehicle observed Barton and a second defendant, Sonia McClean, 52, getting into the SUV at the intersection of 107th Avenue and 164th Street, the criminal complaint said. The detectives then allegedly drove up to the front of the SUV in their car, with their badges dangling on their necks, and asked the two to get out of the vehicle.McClean allegedly complied and got out of the passenger seat, but Barton refused and drove the stolen vehicle into the detectives' NYPD Ford Explorer, according to Brown. When two of the three detectives exited their vehicle and attempted to stop Barton, he allegedly drove into them at fast speed and tried to hit them head-on.”In this instance, the defendant was armed with a formidable weapon — a car,” the DA said.Barton then allegedly continued to ram the Durango into the police vehicle, causing the airbag to deploy, which injured a third detective in the chest and left hand, the complaint said. The defendant got away and 15 minutes later allegedly drove the MTA vehicle into the front passenger side of a marked police car that was parked at the corner of 157th Street and Linden Boulevard, Brown said.The two uniformed officers in the car suffered minor injuries and promptly arrested the fugitive. The DA said Barton resisted arrest as he flailed his arms and legs while being handcuffed.He was ordered held on $100,000 bail and set to return to court on March 4. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison, the DA said.McClean was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance after officers allegedly found a cocaine pipe and vial in the car. She was ordered held on $2,500 bail and could face up to a year in prison if convicted, according to Brown.Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
