Police: Man at center of ex-chief's case accused of driving on drugs, hitting cruiser

Police say the man who was assaulted by a former top Suffolk police official was arrested Friday night for allegedly driving while on drugs.

News 12 Staff

Mar 23, 2019, 10:04 AM

Updated 1,867 days ago

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The man whose arrest led to the downfall of Suffolk County's former top police official is facing charges once again -- this time for allegedly driving while high on drugs and crashing into a police cruiser.
Police say 32-year-old Christopher Loeb first struck a lawn sign Friday night while he was driving his Jeep Cherokee in Ridge. When police got to the scene, Loeb allegedly rammed his SUV into a police cruiser twice -- with an officer inside -- and then took off.
Police gave chase, but called off the pursuit due to safety concerns. Investigators say Loeb was speeding and driving recklessly on the Long Island Expressway.
According to court documents, Loeb was traveling at about 115 mph on the LIE. 
He eventually pulled into an Islandia gas station.
Loeb was arrested in the nearby woods and was taken to the hospital.
The officer who was struck in the cruiser was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Court documents revealed that Loeb admitted to arresting officers that he used heroin.
Back in 2012, Loeb was assaulted by then-Chief of Suffolk Police Department James Burke after Loeb stole a bag out of Burke's SUV.
Burke served time in prison for the assault and ensuing cover-up.
It's not Loeb's first run in with the law since the high-profile case. According to court documents, last year he violated an order of protection by calling and texting his former girlfriend.
Now Loeb is facing a long list of charges, including driving while impaired by drugs, reckless endangerment and fleeing a police officer.
Police say Loeb suffered non-life-threatening injuries, although the nature of the injuries are not clear at this time. He was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital. His bail was set at $50,000 cash, or $100,000 bond.


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