One person is in custody after causing multiple vehicle crashes during a pursuit from Port Washington to the Americana Manhasset mall, according to police officials.
Around 12:30 p.m. a Port Washington police officer conducted a traffic stop near Main Street in Port Washington. That driver fled and caused several crashes, culminating in a crash near the mall, said Christopher Ferro, the chief of department for the Nassau County Police Department, at a press conference Wednesday.
Witnesses say they heard what sounded like a gunshot, saw police running through the mall parking lot, saw a chopper overhead and heard police yell at someone to get down on the ground.
Police have not confirmed whether or not there was a gunshot or who may have fired a weapon.
Ferro said that there is no threat to the public.
The police investigation prompted a road closure on Northern Boulevard at Searingtown Road near Christopher Morley Park. The scene was cleared just before 4:30p.m..
Around 12:45p.m., the Port Washington Police Department notified the Port Washington Union Free School District that some type of incident occurred on Port Washington Boulevard.
The Paul D. Schreiber High School and Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School went on a secured lockout out of an abundance of caution, but classroom activities continued. About 15 minutes later, at 1 p.m., the lockout was lifted.