Teen Driver Accused in Death of 4-Year-Old Arrested for a Third Time

Franklin Reyes, now 18, was arrested on a petit larceny charge along with his father, prosecutors said Saturday

The unlicensed teen driver accused of striking and killing a 4-year-old while fleeing police has been charged with injuring a police officer while fleeing another traffic stop.

Police say 18-year-old Franklin Reyes, who was ordered not to drive while out on bail on the earlier charge, made an illegal turn on Sunday evening.

Authorities say Reyes refused to stop. An officer reached through a passenger side window to try to put the SUV in park.

Police say Reyes sped off and the officer was dragged about a block.

His lawyer didn't immediately return a call for comment.

Reyes, who only had a learner's permit, was charged with manslaughter in the death of Ariel Russo last year. Police say Reyes was fleeing when his SUV jumped a curb, pinning Ariel. He pleaded not guilty

Russo's family expressed anger after the bail hearing last year. 

"My daughter's dead and this guy's going to be free," said Alan Russo, Ariel's father. "He's going to have the summer, he's going to be home, he is going to play video games, he is going to eat his mom's home-cooked food." "

In July, Reyes was arrested in a case unrelated to the two vehicle charges. He  was arrested on a petit larceny charge along with his father, prosecutors said Saturday. Prosecutors say he and his father targeted the apartment of a dead resident in the Chelsea building where his father is a superintendent. They are accused of taking a camera, alcohol, jewelry and cash from the apartment.

Reyes' lawyer, Martin Schmukler, said at the time that the allegations were not true.

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