Suspects charged after allegedly hitting Long Island cop, carjacking elderly woman

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (WABC) -- Two men are facing charges after authorities said they hit a Suffolk County police officer and then fled the scene, leaving the cop critically injured.

Chad Morizsan, 34, and his nephew Nicholas Franzone, 22, appeared in court Tuesday.

Morizsan said he was sorry as he was led out of the 2nd Precinct Tuesday morning, with Franzone following behind. Morizsan is accused of driving with Franzone as the passenger when police say they struck officer Nicholas Guerrero and his partner, sparking a massive manhunt.

Prosecutors said Morizsan was driving an Explorer he had stolen on Sunday when he was stopped by the officers in Huntington because of an outstanding arrest warrant. The two fled after hitting the officers, they said, and stole gas from a gas station, hitting another car on the way out.

Investigators said the two then carjacked an 87-year-old woman in Commack, taking her Toyota Camry while throwing her violently to the ground in her driveway. The two men continued through until they were tracked down in a Target store, where police said they were buying a flat-screen TV with the elderly woman's credit card. They found in a purse left in the vehicle.

Morizsan is facing numerous charges, including assault on a police officer, grand larceny, leaving the scene of an incident that resulted in serious injury, petit larceny, leaving the scene of an incident involving property damage, robbery and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Morizsan was also arrested on three open warrants for violation of probation and petit larceny.

Franzone is charged for his role in the carjacking.

"I certainly think that the charges as they now stand are certainly appropriate," Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said. "We'll take a look at everything. We'll interview all the police officers. We will take a look at the statements and see if other charges are viable or not."

Guerrero is listed in critical but stable condition after undergoing a neuro-surgical procedure.

"Please keep Officer Guerrero and his family in your thoughts and prayers," said Noel DiGerolamo, of the Suffolk PBA.

Morizan and Franzone are being held on bail after their arraignment.