L.I. man steals police car outside Levittown 7-Eleven, crashes it on Hempstead Turnpike: Nassau cops

A Valley Stream man jumped into a Nassau County police car Thursday night on Hempstead Turnpike and crashed it at a busy intersection, half a mile away, an assistant district attorney told a judge at his arraignment this week.

A Valley Stream man jumped in the seat of a Nassau County police car this week and drove off. Seconds later, he crashed into another car.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Nicholas Corrow, 34, was arrested at the crash scene.

Nassau County Police say Corrow’s troublemaking began when he turned up down the street, at his ex-girlfriend’s house on Loring Road, near Hempstead Turnpike, in Levittown.

She told police he came, uninvited, Thursday night and entered the house through a side door around 9 p.m. She was in her bedroom.

Cops say he told her he needed to borrow her car. She said No.

Ignoring her, he allegedly grabbed her pocketbook and turned to leave. Her car keys were in the bag. Her credit cards were in the bag. Her driver’s license was in the bag.

Oh no you don't!: Police say the man went into his ex's Levittown bedroom and told her he needed her car. She told him No!Photo byContent PixieonUnsplash

She was not OK with this. She told Corrow again: NO.

Cops say Corrow left anyway -- with the bag and the keys and the credit cards.

She got up and followed him out the door, very angry, demanding her stuff. Corrow kept walking.

When they got to the car, Corrow reached for the door handle. His ex stepped up behind him and snatched her bag right out of his hand.

But her keys were in his other hand.

Police say “a struggle ensued” as Corrow allegedly tried to pull the car door open so he could jump in.

Police say Nicholas Corrow tried to steal 2 cars at the corner of Wolcott Rd and Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown.Photo byJozsef HoczaonUnsplash

But then … she quickly grabbed her keys. Mission accomplished.

Corrow gave up. Police say he “fled” down Hempstead Turnpike. One block later – Wolcott Road – a car was stopped at the corner. Corrow allegedly ran over to the car, pulled the door handle, and yanked the door open.

The surprised driver reached to pull it closed. So Corrow allegedly pulled a knife out and flashed it at the driver. Later, the driver would tell cops Corrow told him he was going to kill him.

Wolcott Road near Hempstead Turnpike. Police say Nicholas Corrow tried to car-jack 2 cars here on Thursday night around 9:15pm.Photo byC.J. Teevan

The driver stepped on the gas and Corrow was left standing in the middle of the street with a knife.

Corrow stepped over to the curb. Along comes another car. The driver stopped for the traffic light.

“The defendant attempted to gain access to the vehicle,” say police, describing how Corrow tried to open the door to this car. Unlike the other car, this door was locked. So Corrow allegedly flashed his knife again. Police say he growled threats at this driver: “He wants the car and was going to kill the victim.”

The driver stepped on the gas, and Corrow was left standing there, again, alone in the middle of the street with a knife.

Appears Corrow's just not very good at car-jacking.

At this point, Corrow had allegedly committed 9 Felonies for Burglary, Robbery, two Attempts to Steal a Car, two Weapon Possessions, Mischief, and Menacing 2 people. And it was only 9:15pm.

Police say Nicholas Corrow used a knife in multiple car-jacking attempts.Photo byIgor bispoonUnsplash

And he still didn't have a car.

Maybe Nicholas Corrow had to get home to Valley Stream. Maybe he needed a place to sleep. Or a ride to work... OR MAYBE this crummy car-jacker wasn't this defendant, it was someone else. (Corrow? Prove it!)

But police say Corrow rushed back up Hempstead Turnpike, past his ex-girlfriend’s street, to the Wantagh Parkway, across Newbridge Road, until he reached 7-Eleven on the other side of the overpass.

Voila! There in the parking lot was a lady sitting in her car, practically waiting for him. Corrow allegedly ran over to this lady, stood next to her car, and yelled loudly: “Get the fuck outa the car!”

For emphasis, Corrow allegedly flashed his knife again, waving it in the air -- making stabbing motions like he was about to use it if she didn't listen, as she later told police. The terrified woman complied. Police say she got out and ran away.

Cops say a man came to this 7-Eleven on Hempstead Turnpike and threatened to kill 2 drivers if they didn't give him their cars.Photo byC.J. Teevan

But! Did she take the keys?

Police say Corrow couldn’t allegedly steal this car. Allegedly, he “was unable to start it.”

Go figure.

So far, nothing seemed to be working out for Nicholas Corrow. And things were about to get even worse for the accused wannabe car-jacker.

How? It was dark. There’s two places you can always find a Nassau County cop: Dunkin’ Donuts and 7-Eleven. With the headlights on, it looks like any other vehicle.

On this night, a cop in a marked 8th Precinct Police vehicle was stopped next to this 7-Eleven. The cop heard a commotion. He looked up and saw a man in the parking lot trying to get into a car. The cop moved closer.

Police say Corrow had jumped out of the car he couldn't drive and was now trying to get into another car. He allegedly picked up a large metal object – police say it “appeared to be a bike rack” – and allegedly hurled it against the driver’s door of this car. Body damage was later assessed at $7,000.

The 8th Precinct policeman pulled up next to Corrow.

Police say Nicholas Corrow committed six (6) separate Violent C Felonies Thursday night trying to steal cars on Hempstead Turnpike.Photo byC.J. Teevan

And stopped.

Corrow looked at him. He looked at Corrow. Figuring this was worth a closer look, the cop got out of his police car and started to walk around the car to this guy who seemed to be trying to get into other people's cars.

Unfortunately, Mr. Policeman left the keys in the ignition. Engine was running. Doors were unlocked.

Most people would run away. Not Corrow. He needed a car, allegedly.

Corrow, standing on the other side of the police car, assessed the situation. He allegedly reached for the handle on the passenger side of this official marked vehicle, pulled, and quickly jumped in.

The Levittown 7-Eleven on Hempstead Turnpike, where Nicholas Corrow allegedly stole an 8th Precinct Police Car.Photo byC.J. Teevan

The surprised officer now rushed to that side and tried to open the door so he could pull Corrow out of the front passenger seat in his police car.

Too late. Door was slammed and locked. By Corrow. Allegedly.

Fun fact: The Nassau County Police Department Headquarters issued a public statement about this stolen police car incident and said Corrow refused to comply with commands which "prompted the Officer to deploy his Taser which was ineffective". There is no reference in the sworn affidavit of the police officer to using a Taser. And why was his Taser "ineffective"? Did he miss? Did he shoot the door? Since when do these things not paralyze the target, used correctly?

In any event, according to the sworn affidavit filed in connection with his subsequent arrest, Corrow scooted across the seat to the driver’s side of the police car and sat behind the wheel. With the cop still trying to open the passenger door of his own police car, Corrow backed up, put it in drive, and took off with the police officer still grabbing the car.

NCPD official statement says Corrow "proceeded to drag the Officer over 20 feet" before the cop let go of his car.

Officials say the cop got cuts on his elbow and his knees before he gave up. He was treated at NUMC and released.

Nicholas Corrow, who lives in Valley Stream, in his latest mug shot taken Friday. Cheer up, dude. Could be worse.Photo byNassau County Police Mug Shot

Police say the stolen vehicle was worth $60,000 (before it crashed). The defendant had now added four C and D violent Felonies to his RAP sheet, if convicted, allegedly.

A crazed male civilian was now speeding down Hempstead Turnpike in a Nassau County police car. Corrow now had his free ride home to Valley Stream. He could speed, he could drive erratically, he didn't even have to stop for red lights if he could figure out how to turn on the siren. A boy's dream come true.

Or not.

“The defendant proceeded westbound to the intersection of North Bellmore Road and Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown,” police say in a court filing.

North Bellmore Rd and Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, where cops say Nicholas Corrow crashed a police car into another car Thursday night.Photo byC.J. Teevan

And when he got to the traffic light at this busy intersection, Corrow’s luck ran out. Police say he crashed into another car.

The driver and an injured passenger -- the sworn affidavit says 2 people, the official statement says it was 3 -- were taken to Nassau University Medical Center. Corrow, who was maybe wearing a seatbelt, was not injured. He was handcuffed, taken into custody, and hauled off to Arraignments the next day in the Nassau County District Courthouse.

In the courtroom, where Felony charges like murder, contempt, and loaded ghost guns are officially charged, Corrow stood handcuffed and exhausted.

The assistant district attorney argued for significant bail for this defendant. She pointed out that Corrow’s RAP sheet includes a 2018 conviction for Driving While Impaired by Drugs.

Unclear why that matters. Corrow was not charged with drug possession. At least, he wasn't charged this time.

Two people in the car hit by the 8th Precinct vehicle Nicholas Corrow was allegedly driving were taken to the county hospital with injuries.Photo byC.J. Teevan

He was however arrested for Grand Larceny on March 18, 2024. He pled Not Guilty – two weeks before this alleged incident. But then he became a no-show in court. That judge adjourned and prepared a bench warrant, in case Corrow missed his court date again. (The official police statement says he was "being monitored by probation", a euphemism for checking in with the Pretrial Services Department.)

The good news is, showing up for court for that Felony shoplifting case won't be a problem now. He's in custody. They'll make sure he makes his court appearances.

For last week's activities, Corrow was charged with 4 Misdemeanors and seventeen (17) Level C, D, and E Felonies. Judge Jaclene Agazarian gave him a Legal Aid lawyer -- same one he has for his shoplifting case -- and set his bail at $60,000 cash.

Now Corrow is now Inmate #2011020099 with his own cell in Block D at the county jail. Maybe his ex-girlfriend will come through. Maybe not.

It’s gonna be a long, hot summer for this guy.

Innocent until proved guilty. God bless America.

The County Jail, where Nicholas Corrow is being held on $60,000 bail.Photo byC.J. Teevan