L.I. driver hit cop with his BMW and fled: Police

An Elmont man who allegedly tried to run over a police officer as he left the scene of an accident is in jail today, more than a month after the alleged incident.

Judge Jaclene Agazarian set the man's bail bond at $160,000 during his arraignment last Friday, April 12, 2024.

Rohed Naeem -- aka Rohed Naheem -- in a 2019 mug shot after he was arrested driving a stolen LandRover. He went to prison for that.Photo byNassau County Police Mug Shot

Police say Rohed Naeem, 29, fled last month in a black 2009 BMW when they tried to pull him over near Elmont Road on Hempstead Turnpike to check out his covered license plate.

In a sworn affidavit filed in connection with the criminal charges, police say, "Officers did observe the vehicle to have a dark plastic cover over the rear license plate of the vehicle making the registration unreadable" -- grounds for a traffic stop. Police said they followed the BMW several blocks before activating the red emergency lights and siren to pull the BMW over.

The driver ignored them, they say.

Police say they continued to follow the car up Hempstead Turnpike, siren wailing, red lights flashing. The BMW kept going, say police.

Then, near UBS Arena, police say the BMW got stuck in traffic.

Surrounded by motor vehicles stopping and going, there was nowhere for the BMW to go.

The busy corner of Hempstead Turnpike and Elmont Road where police first noticed a black BMW with a covered license plate on March 1.Photo byC.J. Teevan

Police say they pulled in front of him and an officer got out and started walking toward the BMW – in front of the car.

NYS Corrections Records show accused BMW driver Rohed Naeem, 29, has served terms in prison for Felony gun possession and Grand Larceny car theft.

According to public records, Naeem was 21 years old when he was arrested for gun possession in New York City and was sentenced for 1 to 3 years incarceration. He was released early, according to NYS DOC records, and returned to prison to finish his sentence for violating terms of his parole.

NY's Dep't of Corrections has 2 records of an inmate named Rohed Naeem.Photo byMarco ChileseonUnsplash

State records also show Naeem was subsequently arrested for driving a stolen, brand new 2019 Land Rover and was sentenced to 3 to 7 years under a plea agreement for that incident. State records indicate he got time off for good behavior at Willard Correctional Center, which specialized in bootcamp treatment for young repeat offenders with drug convictions.

Now, say police, he did this.

The BMW driver didn’t pull out his license and registration for the police officer as they sat out there in front of UBS. Instead, say cops, he fled, nearly running over one officer, as they yelled at the BMW: “Stop the car! Stop the car!”.

The injured officer leaped away just in time for his hand to get banged by the BMW's side view mirror as it sped past him, investigators say in sworn court filings.

Injuring a police officer in New York State is a Felony, and police are paid top dollar by taxpayers who support law enforcement. $538 million of the $994.63 million Nassau County payroll goes to the NCPD – highest salaries in the country according to ZipRecruiter.

Official logo, Nassau County Police Department.Photo byNassau County Police Department

That’s what police officers get paid to walk over and stand in front of cars that try to run them over.

Police did not say how they identified the BMW driver as Rohed Naeem. But he was arrested March 26, 2024, at 8:34am, and received a Desk Appearance Ticket for 13 traffic violations -- the bad license plates, tailgating, speeding, using the emergency blinkers, driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene of an accident.

Filings indicate Naeem resides on Lehrer Avenue in Elmont, a short walk to the scene of this alleged crime over a month ago on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 4:30pm in the afternoon.

Several weeks later, police revised the charges and added a Felony Complaint to the list of charges.

Naeem was arrested. His new Nassau County charges included counts for D Felony Assault and Reckless Endangerment.

Police say they ID'd the BMW driver. The question is: How? He wasn't charged with assaulting a police officer for more than a month.Photo byC.J. Teevan

He pleaded Not Guilty at his arraignment.

Next court date: Monday, April 15, 2024. Meantime, the Nassau County Sheriff records list Rohed Naeem as Inmate #2010100223 in Block B, Nassau Correctional Center, held on that $160,000 bail. As the Assistant DA told the judge the other day at his arraignment, the Felony charge for assaulting a police officer with a BMW is a Bail Qualifying Offense.

He remains innocent until proved guilty or confesses to everything.

The charges against Rohad Naeem: 3 Misdemeanors, 11 traffic infractions, and Felony assault.Photo byScreenshot, NYS WebCrims criminal court schedule