Cops: 3 charged after Bethpage burglary, fight with officers

A case that began as a fight inside a Bethpage home between a burglar and a 65-year-old resident ended with the suspect’s mother and brother attacking Nassau police officers at a hospital, authorities said Thursday.

John Colwell, 19, was injured when the resident hit him on the head with a baseball bat, police said, and will be arraigned on first-degree burglary charges when medically possible.

His mother, Danielle Colwell, 47, and his brother Liam Colwell, 17, face multiple charges in connection with the hospital assault on the officers, police said. Both are expected to be arraigned Friday. The mother and her two sons live at the same Stewart Avenue residence in Bethpage, police said.

A few blocks away on Wednesday about 10 p.m., John Colwell banged loudly on the door of a home on Lowell Street, police said.

The 65-year-old man questioned the intruder and the pair argued, according to police. John Colwell rushed at the homeowner, who grabbed the bat and struck him, police said.

Colwell then beat the man, police said, adding that the homeowner yelled for his wife and daughter to call 911.

Second Precinct officers sent to the home found Colwell injured inside the house, police said. Colwell and the injured homeowner were then taken to a hospital, police said. The homeowner had three fractured vertebrae, back pain and facial pain, police said, while Colwell had a head cut.

Danielle and Liam Colwell arrived at the hospital, saying they needed to fill out health forms, according to police, but grew agitated and questioned why officers took John Colwell into custody.

Nassau officers ordered them to leave several times, police said, and when the officers tried to remove the mother from the room, she refused and became combative.

That was when Liam Colwell jumped on the back of an officer, leading other cops to rush from nearby hospital rooms to help, police said.

The officers used a stun gun on the teenager and also arrested him and his mother, police said. Neither was injured, according to police, but an officer suffered a back sprain.

Danielle Colwell faces charges of second-degree assault, resisting arrest and second-degree obstructing governmental administration. Liam Colwell faces charges of second-degree obstructing governmental administration and two counts of resisting arrest.