(04/25/08) EAST PATCHOGUE ? Suffolk County police say a man left his two children on a woman?s lawn in East Patchogue before speeding off, but the woman?s statements outline a more violent situation.

According to police, Thomas Chiusano, 29, left his 5-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter in front of a home at 299 South Dunton Ave. around 2 p.m. Thursday. Investigators say when the woman in the home tried to stop him, Chiusano pulled her hair, scratched her arms and fled in his car.However, East Patchogue homeowner Sue Grucci says Chiusano was initially at the scene talking to a neighbor. Grucci says when he drove away, he left the doors to his van open and the children were thrown out onto the street. Grucci?s daughter then picked up the kids and took them into the backyard.

Grucci says she confronted Chiusano and tried to take his keys away. She says during a struggle, Chiusano started slamming her head into the console. He then drove away.

Police later spotted Chiusano on Sunrise Highway and placed him under arrest. He was arraigned Friday on charges of DWI, reckless driving, criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Chiusano is being held on $80,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.