Keep Up With Global Black News

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox.

Avatar photo
BY Francis Akhalbey, 8:02am February 18, 2021,

Hit-and-run driver who allegedly struck and killed Nicki Minaj’s father turns himself in

Avatar photo
by Francis Akhalbey, 8:02am February 18, 2021,
Charles Polevich (left) allegedly struck Robert Maraj while he was walking and drove away -- Left Photo: NCPD | Right Photo via @nickiminaj on Instagram

The Nassau County Police announced the hit-and-run driver who is accused of fatally striking Nicki Minaj’s father in Mineola, Long Island, turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday.

The suspect, Charles Polevich, 70, was driving northbound on a Long Island road on Friday when he struck and killed Robert Maraj. The 64-year-old victim was walking when he was hit. Following the incident, police say Polevich got out of his car to check on Maraj before driving off again. He neither called 911 nor attempted to help the victim, Page Six reported.

“The defendant then exited his vehicle, stood over the victim, asked him if ‘he was ok’, walked and returned to his vehicle and fled the scene,” a criminal complaint stated.

The award-winning Trinidadian-American rapper’s father was transported to the hospital in critical condition but gave up the ghost during the weekend. Polevich has been charged with leaving the scene of an incident causing death and tampering with physical evidence.

Providing further details on the incident on Wednesday, Nassau County Police Detective Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick said Polevich allegedly hid the vehicle – a white Volvo – in his home garage to cover up his tracks after leaving the scene.

“He’s absolutely aware of what happened,” Fitzpatrick said. “He got out of the car and he looked at the deceased, got into his car and made the conscious decision to leave. Instead of dialing 911, instead of calling an ambulance for the man, he went and went home and secreted his vehicle.”

The police, however, managed to identify Polevich as the driver of the vehicle after reviewing surveillance footage, Page Six reported. “We were able to track that vehicle prior to the accident as well as after the accident and tracked it right to his house,” Fitzpatrick said.

The police said they couldn’t establish if Polevich was under the influence when he struck Maraj because he drove off. Polevich, who pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared in court, has been released on a $250,000 bond, CNN reported.

Last Edited by:Mildred Europa Taylor Updated: February 18, 2021

Conversations

Must Read

Connect with us

Join our Mailing List to Receive Updates

Face2face Africa | Afrobeatz+ | BlackStars

Keep Up With Global Black News and Events

Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest updates and events from the leading Afro-Diaspora publisher straight to your inbox, plus our curated weekly brief with top stories across our platforms.

No, Thank You