Man who broke L.B. police officer’s jaw during heroin bust is arrested

Police say suspect Darryl Coad fled to Alabama and is awaiting extradition

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Nearly two months after he allegedly assaulted a Long Beach police officer during a drug arrest, suspect Darryl “Froggy” Coad was apprehended last Friday in Alabama after an extensive manhunt and is awaiting extradition, Police Commissioner Michael Tangney said.

On July 23, Long Beach police were attempting to arrest Coad, of Long Beach, during a heroin sale at 6:25 p.m. at National Boulevard and West Hudson Street. That’s when Coad, described as 5 feet, 11-inches-tall, and 215 pounds, punched a detective in the face and fled the scene.

The detective, whose name was not released, suffered a broken jaw, which required him to undergo surgery to wire his jaw shut. Nassau County Crime Stoppers had offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information about Coad’s whereabouts.

The United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended Coad in Enterprise, Ala. on Sept. 5. He is being detained as a fugitive based on four Long Beach City Court felony warrants for first-degree assault, assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance as well as a New York parole violation warrant. Authorities there are holding Coad, pending extradition proceedings.

Tangney said the apprehension is the culmination of a six-week long investigation and manhunt by the Long Beach Police Department, U.S. Marshals New York and New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, Nassau County Police Department, New York State Police, Nassau County district attorney's Office and New York State Parole.

Tangney commended his detectives and the inter-agency effort.

“Our Narcotics Task Force is attacking the heroin issue head on,” he said in a statement. “This assault highlights the dangers Police Officers face every day. The group law enforcement efforts in this case were astounding. Long Beach detectives worked tirelessly with the US Marshals, Nassau Police, New York State Police and New York State Parole to track Froggy down to Alabama.”

Crime in our city is never tolerated, let alone assaulting one of Long Beach's finest," City Council President Scott Mandel said in a statement. “You can run, but you can't hide. Those who commit crimes in our city will be brought to justice.”