Cop hurt in Long Island carjacking leaves hospital

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (WABC) -- A Long Island police officer critically injured by a hit-and-run driver in September left the hospital and entered a rehabilitation facility on Friday.

Nicholas Guerrero, 36, left Stony Brook University Hospital, where he has been treated since being struck nearly four weeks ago.

The two suspected carjackers accused of running down Guerrero and another Suffolk County police officer while fleeing a traffic stop were arraigned on an indictment earlier this month in Central Islip.

Chad Morizsan, 34, and his nephew, 22-year-old Nicholas Franzone, both of Northport, appeared before State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho.

District Attorney Tom Spota said the 28-count indictment contains upgraded charges against both men of first-degree assault, which carries a sentence of up to 25 years in state prison. Morizsan and Franzone also face upgraded robbery charges for allegedly stealing an elderly Commack woman's car and her pocketbook while they were trying to evade capture.

Morizsan and Franzone were taken into custody in a Central Islip Target, where they attempted to purchase a television with the 87-year-old woman's stolen credit card.

Morizsan was ordered held on $30 million bond, while Franzone is held on $450,000 bond.