SUNNYSIDE — A Sunnyside man was charged with reckless driving, resisting arrest and other counts after he was allegedly riding his car erratically in the neighborhood, a spokeswoman for Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
A 108th Precinct officer allegedly observed Denison Viana, 24, of 43-31 45th St. in Sunnyside, going in reverse in his 1997 Nissan sedan between 8:30 a.m. and 8:41 a.m. Dec. 17 near 40th Street and 43rd Avenue in Sunnyside, according to the criminal complaint.
The officer then allegedly saw Viana backing up his car the wrong way onto a one-way street, the complaint said.
Another officer was simultaneously driving his marked police car into the intersection and made a turn when Viana’s car suddenly approached his in reverse, almost hitting the cop car, the complaint said.
When the first officer activated the turret lights on his car and directed Viana to pull over, Viana then stopped his car, got out and fled on foot, the complaint said.
Viana continued to flee on foot despite the officer’s order to stop and entered an apartment building at 43-45 42nd St., the complaint said.
The two officers followed Viana inside the common hallway of the building, when Viana allegedly continued to disobey the officer’s orders and started to push and shove the officers and flailed his arms in an attempt to avoid being handcuffed, the complaint said.
Viana allegedly admitted he did not live in the apartment building and had no reason to be there and that he fled from the police because he thought his license was suspended, the complaint said.
One of the officers said Viana was unable to produce a valid license or permit, the complaint said.
Viana was arraigned on charges of driving by an unlicensed operator, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, reckless driving, unsafe backing, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, disobedience to police officers and flagpersons and operation of vehicles with safety seats and safety belts before Queens Criminal Court Judge Toko Serita Dec. 17, who released Viana on his own recognizance, the spokeswoman said.
