Suspicious Vehicle Speeds Off; Cops Capture 2 Men

Two men who were spotted changing a license plate in Bethpage led Nassau Police on a wild chase and ended with the pair captured and facing drug and other charges.

Nassau detectives said the incident began Friday afternoon when police received a 911 call for a suspicious male changing license plates on a blue Dodge Caravan on Floral and Farmers avenues in Bethpage.

Upon arrival, police observed two men inside a blue Caravan with a Florida license plate fitting that description about 2:45 p.m.

Second Precinct Police officers conducted a vehicle stop and, as the officer approached the vehicle and asked for identification, the driver sped off, police said.

Officers followed the vehicle as it drove recklessly northbound on Stewart Avenue and onto Route 107, finally stopping in front of 140 Stewart Ave, police said.

Both men jumped out of the car and fled the scene on foot. Officers gave chase and were able to apprehend and place the two under arrest.

The men were identified as Daniel S. Michalski, 36, of Pratt St., West Babylon and Joseph H. Wolfgang, 43, of Lexington Ave., Bethpage.

In the course of the arrest, one Xanax and four Hydrocodone pills were found in Wolfgang's possession, while Michalski, the driver of the automobile, admitted to having 25 Hydrocodone pills without a valid prescription, police said.

Michalski is being charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, reckless endangerment, registration of a motor vehicle with improper plates, reckless driving, operating without insurance and several other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.

Wolfgang is being charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. They will be arraigned on April 20, 2013 at First District Court, Hempstead.