9/27/24 Babylon, NY – Drunk Man Crashes His Car – Handcuffed In A New York State Police Car – Steals the NEW YORK STATE POLICE Car – Car Found 3 Miles Away – Suspect Arrested In A Cemetary

September 27, 2024

www.patch.com

A Long Island man was arrested after crashing his car and fleeing the scene in a police vehicle while handcuffed, New York State Police said.

John Gibson, 37, of Copiague, crashed his car on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 39 in the town of Babylon on September 27 around 5:25 a.m., state police said.

Gibson then failed a sobriety test and was placed under arrest, handcuffed and seat-belted into the rear of a state police patrol vehicle, police said.

While troopers were still investigating, Gibson slipped his handcuffs to the front, freed himself from the seat belt, climbed into the front seat of the patrol vehicle and drove away from the scene, police said.

Assisted by Suffolk County police, troopers found the stolen patrol vehicle about three miles from the scene on Matthews Avenue in West Babylon, police said.

Shortly after, Gibson was found in a nearby cemetery and taken back into custody, police said.

Gibson was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, both class E felonies; first-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, a class D felony; third-degree escape, resisting arrest, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer, all class A misdemeanors; and driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor, state police said.

Gibson was transported to the Brentwood police station for arrest processing and will be transported for arraignment, police said.