Alexander Cerda, 21, of Bay Shore, pleads not guilty in fatal hit-and-run

A Bay Shore man pleaded not guilty Friday to fatally striking a pedestrian while driving a stolen car while intoxicated, officials said.

Alexander Cerda, 21, of Bay Shore, was indicted on second-degree manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and 13 additional charges related to an incident that allegedly culminated in the death of pedestrian Eric Perez, 52, of Bay Shore, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Around 2 a.m. on March 8, Cerda allegedly entered a Bay Shore home, damaged a window and stole an unlocked Toyota RAV4 on the property, Tierney’s office said in a news release. Surveillance footage from that home shows “what appeared to be the intoxicated defendant” driving away in the car, the release reads.

Around 10 minutes later, Cerda was driving the stolen car west down Main Street in Bay Shore near Shore Lane “at a high rate of speed” and with the headlights off, according to the district attorney’s release. Cerda then struck Perez in the roadway, causing the victim “to be thrown a considerable distance down the street.”

After hitting Perez, Cerda allegedly exited the vehicle and photographed the damage it sustained while several good Samaritans tried to help the victim. Once Suffolk police arrived at the scene, Cerda drove away in the stolen Toyota. Perez was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

Suffolk detectives found the damaged Toyota abandoned in the parking lot of an apartment complex on South Clinton Avenue near Cerda’s Bay Shore residence. Police arrested Cerda four days after the hit-and-run.

On Friday, Cerda pleaded not guilty before acting state Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft, Jr. to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree vehicular assault, second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree criminal trespass, third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, fourth-degree grand-larceny, leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and criminal tampering with evidence, according to court documents.

“The charges returned by the grand jury reflect the severe nature of the alleged offenses and the defendant’s conduct,” Tierney said in a statement.

When reached by telephone Friday evening, defense attorney George Duncan described Cerda as “a young man who’s never been in trouble before for anything.”

“We maintain our innocence,” Duncan added.

Senft ordered Cerda held on $400,000 cash bail, $800,000 bond or $2,000,000 partially secured bond and suspended his license throughout the court case, Tierney’s office said. Cerda is scheduled to return to court on May 2. He faces 5 to 15 years behind bars if convicted on the top count.