LI man sentenced to 55 years in shooting of Suffolk County police officer

RIVERHEAD, Long Island (WABC) -- A man convicted for the attempted murder of a Suffolk County police officer a year ago was sentenced Monday to 55 years behind bars.

Sheldon Leftenant shot Officer Mark Collins twice in March 2015 in Huntington Station.

It happened as Officer Collins tried to handcuff Leftenant following a chase after a traffic stop.

After being ordered from the vehicle Leftenant ran and Officer Collins caught up with the suspect and deployed his Taser twice, forcing Leftenant down in a driveway on Mercer Court in Huntington Station, authorities said.

While struggling with the defendant trying to handcuff him, Officer Collins was shot twice, once in the neck and once in the hip.

The 23-year-old man was convicted in January.