Rockland Man Arrested After Trooper Injured During Traffic Stop

A Rockland County man is facing a host of charges after crashing his vehicle moments after fleeing the scene of a traffic stop in Orange County in an incident in which a state trooper was injured, according to police.

Chaim Surkis
Photo Credit: *New York State Police*

Joe Lombardi

01/23/2018 4:00 a.m.

State Police stopped a vehicle on I-87 in the town of Tuxedo for a traffic violation at about 10:35 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13.

During the trooper’s interview of the driver, 29-year-old Chaim Surkis of Spring Valley fled without warning. After crashing his vehicle, police attempted to place Surkis under arrest and a brief struggle ensued. Surkis was taken into custody, transported to local hospital for evaluation. The injured trooper was treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.

Surkis was processed on Monday, Jan. 22 at state police headquarters in Tarrytown and subsequently charged with:

Assault in the second degree, with intent to cause injury to a police officer, a Class D felony.
Reckless driving, unclassified misdemeanor
Reckless endangerment in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor
Resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor
Obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor
Unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree, a Class A misdemeanor
Criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor

Surkis is currently awaiting arraignment in the town of Tuxedo Court. No bail or return court information is available at this time.

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