Police chase wanted man through Long Beach

Long Beach police pursued a wanted man suspected of committing a burglary and a break-in last fall through the city on April 20, in what Police Commissioner Mike Tangney described as a “well-coordinated” effort that involved warning several residents to stay indoors.

The incident began around noon, when a police detective who was coming off an assignment spotted 34-year-old Ronald Miller — a homeless man who police said had an open state parole warrant — on the 100 block of East Chester Street. The Nassau County Police Department had alerted Long Beach police during a search for Miller, who was wanted in connection with a commercial burglary in the 4th Precinct.

Police said that on Oct. 31, Miller entered the Shamrock Gas Station at 17 Merrick Road in Baldwin and stole a laptop computer, cigarettes and cash. Then, on Nov. 6, according to police, Miller entered the BP gas station at 160 Davison Ave. in Oceanside after allegedly breaking a glass garage door. No loss was reported, but police said that Miller left behind evidence at both locations linking him to the incidents.

“The 4th Precinct was looking for him, and he is someone known to frequent Long Beach,” said Tangney. “There was enough probable cause to effect an arrest.”

Tangney said that Miller led police on a short foot chase once the detective identified him. Eight Long Beach police officers were involved in a 45-minute search before Miller was apprehended, according to Tangney.

“We set up a perimeter of police officers to contain him along the 200 block, between the houses on Chester and Market streets,” Tangney said, explaining that four officers were positioned along the perimeter while four others conducted the search. “If he were to, say, cross Market Street to get to Hudson Street, the officer would have seen him there …”

Tangney said that police asked several residents if they had seen Miller, and instructed them to stay indoors during the search. “We went very cautiously house to house until we captured him,” he said. “I saw an open door to [a] house and when I encountered the homeowner, I advised her to lock her doors until further notice. Anybody we saw, we told them to go in their homes and lock their doors. It was a well-coordinated, efficient containment and search.”

Tangney said that it was not known at the time if Miller was dangerous. “Burglary is a violent crime — you don’t know what anybody is going to do,” he said. “He was a wanted felon and he knew he was going back to jail, and caution was the catchword of the day.”

Police apprehended Miller in the backyard of a home on East Chester Street, Tangney said, after he had leaped over a fence. “He jumped over a fence and into the yard and, without being careful, he didn’t realize the yard was much lower, and once he jumped in he couldn’t get out,” Tangney said. “He was very upset at being apprehended.”

Miller was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools. He was arraigned on April 21 in First District Court in Hempstead.