April 24, 2023 A career criminal on parole since August 2021 is being sought in connection to an incident in which a reckless Cadillac driver took off from a traffic stop and struck two NYPD officers.
By Emma Seiwell Source New York Daily News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The man sought for allegedly fleeing a traffic stop and injuring two NYPD officers in a wild Midtown chase is a career criminal on parole, according to a police source and state records.
Police on Friday released photos of Benjamin Abrams, 56, who was paroled in August 2021 after serving a six-year sentence for attempted robbery and drug charges — one of five prison terms he has served, mostly for drug cases, records show.
Abrams was released in August 2021, and is to remain on parole through February 2025.
Abrams is wanted in connection to an incident in which a reckless Cadillac driver struck took off from a traffic stop, striking two cops and wreaking havoc on Midtown streets.
The chaos, captured on cellphone video obtained by the Daily News, began at about 4:50 p.m. Wednesday when police stopped the Cadillac for a traffic violation near Seventh Ave. and W. 38th St., cops said.
As police approached, the driver took off. Cops radioed ahead and officers caught up with the Cadillac when it got stuck in traffic on E. 30th St. near Madison Ave., officials said.
But as cops approached, the driver threw the car in reverse and gunned the engine, sending one officer leaping out of the way.
The driver then sped forward, plowing through a sidewalk shed on E. 30th St. as he vaulted the curb.
Pedestrians jumped out of the way as the driver zipped down the sidewalk then veered back onto the roadway, knocking over a street sign before speeding off.
The driver sideswiped multiple vehicles before slamming into another car near Lexington Ave. and E. 31st St. The driver abandoned the Cadillac there and ran off.
At some point during the melee, two uniformed cops were struck by the Cadillac, police said. Both were taken to area hospitals in stable condition.
Abrams’ lengthy rap sheet dates back to 1989 and includes 24 arrests. He has faced charges including robbery, car theft, drug possession and prostitution, a police source said.
He also uses the aliases Marty Freeman and Conrad Hilton, according to DOCCS records.
Cops described Abrams as 6-foot-4 and about 200 pounds.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477)