A Brooklyn man last week was found guilty of assault and other charges in a June 2014 incident in which he led police on a high-speed chase from Queens to Manhattan and back, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Maurice McArthur, 27, was convicted last Wednesday of second-degree assault, third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest after a two-week jury trial.
According to trial testimony, officers spotted a speeding 1996 Ford Taurus going southbound on 11th Street in Long Island City around 7:30 p.m. on June 4, 2014. McArthur was behind the wheel and when he turned eastbound onto 40th Avenue he nearly crashed into an unmarked police van. Officers attempted to pull the car over, but McArthur ignored their orders and made another turn onto 21st Street going southbound.
McArthur then took the ramp westbound to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge driving erratically and nearly colliding with other motorists on the bridge, according to testimony. He exited the bridge on 63rd Street in Manhattan, turned southbound onto 2nd Avenue and weaved in and out of traffic, narrowly missing other vehicles and briefly driving on the sidewalk.
McArthur then sped to 58th Street and turned left, slamming into another vehicle. He continued back onto the Queensboro Bridge. The car came to a stop on the other side on Thomson Avenue, but the McArthur jumped out and ran eastbound toward Queens Boulevard, where he was apprehended by police. During the arrest, McArthur kicked his legs and swung his arms violently. One of the arresting officers suffered a sprained left wrist and the other sustained a contusion and swelling on his right forearm.
McArthur, who is set to be sentenced on April 28, is facing up to seven years in prison.
