Rasheeda Brown, who led police on two car chases through three towns and escaped from police custody at Peconic Bay Medical Center on Sept. 17, pleaded not guilty today on to multiple felony and other charges in Suffolk County Criminal Court in Central Islip.
Judge Fernando Camacho ordered Brown held on $250,000 bail or $750,000 bond.
Brown’s wife Tanya Brown, 34, also pleaded not guilty to multiple charges today and was held on $100,000 bail/$300,000 bond.
According to police, on Sept. 17 Rasheeda Brown stole a vehicle in Southampton and then led police on a chase through Southampton, Brookhaven and Riverhead towns, causing multiple accidents along the way. The chase ended when she crashed into a state trooper’s vehicle in a crosswalk in the Home Depot parking lot. Complaining of chest pains, she was brought to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where she subsequently escaped from Southampton Town Police custody and then, while still in handcuffs, “forcibly stole” another vehicle in front of T.J. Maxx, according to police.
The second stolen vehicle, parked outside T.J. Maxx, was occupied by a 14-year-old girl when Brown jumped in and took off, state police Capt. William Hulse confirmed. The girl was able to get out of the car before Brown sped off, he said. Brown left the scene and was later spotted by police who were canvassing the area on Mill Road in Riverhead, about a mile north of Route 58.
Hulse said Brown went to the home of Wallace M. Conklin Jr., 47, at 727 Mill Road, where her handcuffs were cut off with a hacksaw. After leaving his home in the vehicle she stole from the TJ Maxx parking lot, Brown fled police again, and this time struck a trailer carrying a jet-ski that was being towed by a Jeep Wrangler on Route 58, according to police. Following that crash, Brown attempted to forcibly steal the Jeep, troopers said.
See previous stories:
- Woman in custody flees emergency room, steals second car, leads police on second chase ending in crash
- Slew of felony charges will be presented to grand jury this week against Riverhead woman accused in car thefts, police chases
In grand jury indictments unsealed by the court yesterday and today, Rasheeda Brown was charged with:
- two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree (D felony);
- one count of grand larceny in the third degree (D felony);
- three counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (E felony);
- one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree (E felony);
- seven counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (E felony);
- one count of escape in the second degree (E felony);
- two counts of driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of drugs or of alcohol and drugs (A misdemeanor);
- one count of attempted grand larceny in the fourth degree (A misdemeanor)
- two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the third degree (A misdemeanor);
- two counts of unlawful fleeing from a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree (A misdemeanor);
- two counts of reckless endangerment in the second degree A misdemeanor);
- two counts of reckless driving (unclassified misdemeanor);
- one count of driving on the shoulder or slope of the roadway (violation);
- three counts of speeding (violation).
Tanya Brown was charged with:
- one count of forgery in the second degree (D felony);
- seven counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree (E felony);
- one count of criminal possession of public benefit cards in the third degree one count of identity theft in the second degree (E felony);
- three counts of unlawful possession of personal identification information in the third degree (A misdemeanor);
- one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree (A misdemeanor)
Both defendants were represented by assigned counsel. Eileen Powers of Riverhead represented Rasheeda Brown and Michael Gajdos of Central Islip represented Tanya Brown.
Rasheeda Brown is next due back in court on Nov. 10, while Tanya Brown returns to court on Nov. 9.
Conklin was charged with criminal facilitation in the fourth degree, conspiracy in the fifth degree, and hindering prosecution in the third degree, all misdemeanors. He was released on an appearance ticket returnable in Riverhead Town Justice Court.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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