The alleged drunken driver of a stolen luxury car led police officers on a police chase that hit speeds in excess of 100 mph with two passengers and a cache of illegal drugs late Saturday night, authorities said.
Long Beach city police officers attempted to pull over Infiniti but the driver, 25-year-old Tariq Qazi of Elmhurst, sped away and Nassau County police officers later spotted the vehicle eastbound on Lido Boulevard driving erratically at more than 100 mph at 11:08 p.m., police said.
The driver then turned northbound onto the Loop Parkway, blew a steady red light and weaved in and out of traffic stopped for the opening of the drawbridge, police said. The vehicle then crossed the median traveling northbound in the southbound lanes and came to a stop at the open bridge.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 37 blue pills that are believed to be oxycodone, as well as cocaine and marijuana, police said. The vehicle had been reported stolen from Maryland, police said.
Qazi and his two 22-year-old passengers, Maher Fadl of Middle Village and Malissa Chester of Jamaica, are each facing drug possession charges.
Qazi was aditionally charged with driving while ability impaired, driving without a license, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of stolen property, reckless driving and 19 traffic violations.
He will be arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead. Defendants Chester and Fadl were arraigned Saturday.
