Haverstraw, NY – Three Haverstraw police officers were injured Friday, October 23, following an encounter with a suspected burglar that developed into a vehicle pursuit through portions of Rockland County. The incident resulted in the arrest of a 24-year-old Haverstraw resident who now faces several criminal charges, including aggravated attempted murder.
The suspect, identified by authorities as Isaac Catedral, was taken into custody after his vehicle collided with an occupied Haverstraw Police Department patrol vehicle. Police allege that Catedral had previously struck and run over another officer while attempting to escape.
According to the Haverstraw Police Department, the incident began at approximately 4:41 p.m. when officers were dispatched to a residence in the Village of Haverstraw. The initial complaint involved a man reportedly behaving disorderly and attempting to enter a home without permission.
Officers responding to the call subsequently located a vehicle consistent with the description provided during the initial report.
When police approached the vehicle, they instructed the driver to get out. Authorities allege that rather than complying, the driver accelerated toward one of the officers, striking him with the vehicle and running him over.
The driver then left the area, prompting police to initiate a pursuit.
According to investigators, the vehicle traveled south on Route 9W from Haverstraw into the Town of Clarkstown. The pursuit later reversed direction, with the driver heading north toward Haverstraw.
The chase ended when the suspect’s vehicle collided with a Haverstraw police patrol vehicle occupied by department personnel.
Officers arrested Catedral following the collision.
Police reported that three Haverstraw officers sustained injuries during the incident. Emergency medical personnel transported the officers to area hospitals for treatment.
Initial coverage by News 12 identified Westchester Medical Center as the hospital where the officer struck by the suspect’s vehicle was taken following the incident.
As of October 26, authorities had not publicly confirmed the full extent of all three officers’ injuries or provided a detailed medical update on their conditions.
Catedral was also transported to a hospital for medical evaluation following the collision. Police have not released additional details concerning his medical condition.
Following his arrest, authorities filed multiple criminal charges against Catedral.
The reported charges include aggravated attempted murder, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, second-degree criminal mischief, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
The aggravated attempted murder allegation relates to the reported use of a vehicle against a police officer. The additional charges involve alleged assaults, property damage and violations involving controlled substances and a weapon.
Police have not publicly detailed the nature of the alleged controlled substance or weapon involved, nor have they released a complete account of the evidence supporting those specific charges.
Catedral appeared before the Village of Haverstraw Justice Court on Saturday morning, October 24, for arraignment.
Following that appearance, he was remanded to the Rockland County Correctional Facility in New City.
The incident required assistance from several law enforcement agencies throughout Rockland County. In addition to the Haverstraw Police Department, responding agencies included the Stony Point Police Department, Clarkstown Police Department, Ramapo Police Department, New York State Police and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have not released a detailed timeline establishing the exact location of each collision or the duration of the pursuit.
The specific circumstances surrounding the original reported attempted break-in also have not been fully disclosed, including whether any property was entered or damaged.
The case remains subject to further court proceedings. All criminal charges are allegations, and Catedral is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.