17 Feb 2021

Nassau Police Homicide Squad Detective Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick disclosed that Charles Polevich, 70, turned himself in on Wednesday, and was charged with leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality and tampering with evidence.

Polevich has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a $250,000 bond, according to his attorney, Michael Scotto.

When asked for comment on the case, Scotto described it as a tragic accident and added that their thoughts were with the Maraj family.

The victim had been walking in Mineola, Long Island, on Friday evening when he was “was struck by a northbound, undescribed, vehicle that left the scene of the accident,” the Nassau County Police Department said in a statement last week.

Maraj later died at the hospital, police said.

Allegedly, Polevich altered and hid his white Volvo station wagon in an attempt to hide it from police. Through security footage, police were able to track the car back to the suspect’s house, he said.

Polevich has no criminal history, and does not seem to have been intoxicated at the time of the incident, as he had fled the scene. But based on the tracking of his movements, it does not appear he was at a bar prior to the incident.

Police are in touch with Maraj’s family regarding the investigation and the arrest.