Medford Teen Indicted On 10 Charges For 2 Hit-And-Run Crashes: DA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY - A Medford teen was indicted Thursday on 10 counts for allegedly injuring a Suffolk County police officer in a hit-and-run crash in March, then fleeing the scene of a second crash the following day, according to District Attorney Timothy D. Sini.

Jaheem Funderburke, 17, is charged with two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree assault, third degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer, two counts of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and reckless driving, the DA said.

On March 8, while responding to a 911 call about a suspicious vehicle near Peterson Street in Brentwood, a responding officer approached the car and asked the driver for identification, the DA said.

The driver put the car in reverse before accelerating forward, striking the police officer in the hip and causing him to fall to the ground, the DA said. The officer sustained several physical injuries.

The driver continued to drive in a reckless manner, reaching speeds of over 100 mph, and was last seen heading northbound on Route 111, the DA said. Police ended the pursuit and the driver was not apprehended.

Then on March 9, officers responded to a two-car crash at the intersection of Gordon Road and Granny Road in Medford, the DA said.

Funderburke was driving a 2018 Mazda 6 northbound on Gordon Road when his car struck a 2001 Nissan, driven by a 42-year-old Medford woman, the DA said. The woman suffered minor injuries.

Funderburke and two passengers in the Mazda allegedly fled the scene on foot and were apprehended by Suffolk County Police Canine Section officers in a wooded area south of Dourland Road.

He was allegedly found in possession, on his person and in his car, of various quantities of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, the DA said.

An investigation revealed that Funderburke was also the driver who allegedly struck a police officer and fled the scene on March 8, the DA said.

He was arraigned on the indictment by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice C. Randall Hinrichs. Bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond. He is due back in court on May 30.

"The brave men and women of the Suffolk County Police Department put their lives on the line every day to keep residents safe and protect them from criminals," Sini said. "This individual put an officer’s safety at risk and led police on not one, but two dangerous pursuits."

If convicted, Funderburke faces a maximum sentence of up to 16 years in prison.