By Bianca Fortis
A Staten Island man has been charged with taking police on a high-speed chase while under the influence of alcohol, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said last week
According to the DA, Chester Deespina, 31, of 6 Hamilton St., allegedly sideswiped a vehicle near 106th Street at 109th Avenue in Ozone Park Aug. 21. Soon after, two police officers in an unmarked car observed Deespina, in his 2003 Nissan, run a steady red light at Liberty Avenue and 120th Street in South Richmond Hill, the DA said.
The police officers then pursued him, but Deespina allegedly failed to stop, the DA said. Police contend that Deespina sped away from them, at times reaching speeds of more than 80 mph, ran through 10 other red lights and drove the wrong way down a one-way street.
The pursuit ended when Deespina allegedly slammed into a vehicle, which was occupied by five people, at the intersection of Atlantic and Van Siclen avenues in Brooklyn, the DA said.
Police said Deespina smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred as he spoke, according to the DA. Police said they allegedly removed two empty Corona beer bottles from Deespina’s vehicle.
Deespina suffered a broken hip in the crash and was hospitalized. He allegedly refused to take a blood test at the hospital, the DA said.
Deespina has been charged with assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and various other traffic offenses, including leaving the scene of an incident without reporting property damage, failure to obey stop lights, and driving the wrong way down a one-way roadway, the DA said.
If convicted of the criminal charges, he faces seven years in prison.
“What allegedly began as a relatively minor vehicle accident turned into a terrifying experience for police and civilians alike when the defendant attempted to escape justice,” Brown said. “Although his alleged actions could have resulted in far deadlier consequences, they nevertheless clearly illustrate the inherent dangers of getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.”
