Two men tried to run down two police officers in West Hempstead on Saturday night, Nassau police said.
Three 5th Precinct plain-clothes officers who were on patrol in an unmarked car spotted a Nissan and an Acura both speeding northbound on Hempstead Gardens Drive at 11:36 p.m. The officers stopped both cars at the intersection of Linden Street and when they identified themselves, both cars sped away in opposite directions.
One of the three officers got back in the patrol car and chased the Acura, stopping it at the intersection of Chestnut Street. The driver, 19-year-old Andrew Ayala, was arrested.
The Nissan, after crashing into a telephone pole, drove straight at the two other officers, who were still on foot. The officers managed to dodge the vehicle, and one fired a single shot at the car. The Nissan was then abandoned at Birch Street, and its driver, 20-year-old Roberto Loo-Kung, was apprehended in nearby Lakeview.
Loo-Kung was charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and other violations. He was arraigned on Nov. 8 in First District Court in Hempstead.
Ayala was charged with reckless endangerment and was released, due to appear back at First District Court in Hempstead on Nov. 19.