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Man Crashed Stolen Car Into Building While Fleeing Police, Prosecutors Say

By Nicholas Rizzi | April 25, 2017 12:32pm

MARINERS HARBOR — A Staten Island man fleeing police last week crashed a stolen car into another car before slamming to a halt against a building, prosecutors said.

Emeka Aduba, 23, of Mariners Harbor, was driving a stolen black Range Rover on April 18 when police spotted him at about 6:35 p.m. near the corner of South Avenue and Arlington Place, according to his criminal complaint.

Police tried to stop Aduba but he sped away at about 90 MPH, blew through stop signs and swerved through traffic. He eventually hit another car then crashed the Range Rover into a building on Harbor Road, authorities said.

"I'm sorry, it's not my car," Aduba told officers, according to his police report.

The Range Rover, valued at more than $50,000, was reported missing from Astoria by the owner on April 16, prosecutors said.

Aduba was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration and unauthorized use of a vehicle at his arraignment, the Staten Island District Attorney's office said.

A psychological exam was ordered by a judge and Aduba is being held without bail, according to online court records.

Aduba has been arrested several times before, most recently on April 10 for stealing a car and driving without a license, court records show.

He was also arrested in 2010 when he was 18 after police found him stealing a TV, laptop and Playstation controller from a house in his neighborhood, the Staten Island Advance reported.

His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Other notable crimes in Staten Island include:

► A drunk driver with a suspended license flipped his car in West Brighton after getting into an accident, prosecutors said.

Lee Bennett, 53, was driving his 2007 Chevrolet SUV on April 17 when he got into an accident near 17 Alaska St., causing his car to overturn, according to his complaint.

When officers arrived, they said he had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet, prosecutors said. Bennett refused a breathalyzer test on scene and was taken to Richmond University Medical Center.

His license was previously suspended for failing to pay or appear for a ticket, prosecutors said.

He was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated at his arraignment, the DA said.

His bail was set at $10,000 and he's due back in court on May 4, according to online court records.

Bennett was previously arrested last month for drunk driving, court records show. He also had three stints in prison for grand larceny, robbery and attempted robbery, according to the Department of Corrections. 

His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

► A worker at a Stapleton dollar store stole more than $1,000 from a safe inside, prosecutors said.

Shawnte Gist, 28, swiped $1,575 from a safe the Family Dollar at 135 Canal St. on April 10, authorities said.

Gist was arrested on April 18 charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny at his arraignment, the DA said.

He was released without bail, court records show.

Gist's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.