Charges after chase with Nassau police

A Freeport woman suspected of leading Nassau police on a chase Monday night was arraigned Wednesday on reckless endangerment, attempted murder of a police officer and other charges.

Ayanna Zellner, 28, of Freeport, was ordered jailed without bail at her arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead. A passenger in the car during the chase, Damon Banner, 25, of Queens, who police said fired on pursuing officers, faces similar charges. He was to appear for his arraignment but had to return to the hospital minutes before he was to face a judge.

Both suspects were injured after the 2011 Chevrolet Impala that police said Zellner was driving crashed into an accident scene on the Meadowbrook State Parkway near Hempstead Turnpike that had claimed the life of a woman earlier.

Police said the chase began after officers on patrol in the Uniondale area saw a hooded man approach a pedestrian. Officers suspected the man, later identified by officers as Banner, was going to rob the pedestrian.

Officers approached Banner, identified themselves and he dove into the waiting Impala. One plainclothes officer gave chase. In court papers Zellner told investigators Banner jumped in and demanded she drive off.

"I drive really fast, and Damon starts shooting at the cops," Zellner said.

At one point, a second as-yet-unapprehended man in the car bailed and the car then continued onto the Meadowbrook, where Zellner crashed into the area cordoned off as officers investigated the fatal accident.