New York

23-Year-Old Woman in Custody in Wild FDR Police Chase, Shooting That Left 2 Cops Hurt

A passenger in the vehicle was also taken into custody Friday; authorities are searching for two more passengers

What to Know

  • A police chase on the FDR lead to a dangerous confrontation -- with two officers hospitalized and part of the roadway shutdown
  • Police fired shots at the vehicle, which took off and was later found abandoned near East Houston Street; whoever was inside ran off
  • An officer in the car hit by the suspect vehicle was treated for injuries and released, police said; a second cop was treated for tinnitus

A 23-year-old woman is in custody in connection with Thursday's wild chase and shooting on Manhattan's FDR Drive that left two cops hospitalized and part of the roadway shut down for hours, authorities said.

The woman, identified as Veronica Jagdeo, was taken into custody Friday; charges are expected to be filed against her in connection with the FDR fray. Cops allege she was the driver police pulled over near 96th Street and Second Avenue; there was a smell of marijuana, and four people inside the car. When plainclothes anti-crime cops approached, she allegedly backed up and rammed their car, hitting one in the elbow and the other in the hand, then sped off.

One of the injured officers fired six shots, but the vehicle had already sped away. Body cam footage shows the car driving past him as he fires one shot after another, authorities said. That officer who fired the bullets has been placed on modified duty as authorities look into whether his actions violated guidelines, police officials said. A cop can fire at a moving vehicle if he or she believes it is about to hit people, but not at one driving down an open highway, officials said.

No one was hurt in the gunfire. Both of the injured police officers were OK. 

A 26-year-old passenger in the suspect's vehicle was also taken into custody Friday on a previous warrant. Officials say he was questioned after walking into Queens General Hospital; he has a history of weapons and larceny-related charges. Authorities say they're still searching for two more passengers. Information on an attorney for Jagdeo wasn't immediately available. 

The investigation is ongoing. 

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