Police in New York say that a 52-year-old Monroe County man was drunk when he attempted to flee from state troopers in the early morning hours of April 20. Reports indicate that troopers were joined by officers from the New York State Police during a pursuit that lasted for between 5 and 10 minutes. The man has been charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, unlawful fleeing, resisting arrest and reckless endangerment, and he faces a raft of motor vehicle infractions and violations.
According to police reports, the man attempted to flee when troopers signaled his vehicle to pull over in the vicinity of East Avenue and Chestnut Street at approximately 3:20 a.m. Troopers say that the vehicle was being driven erratically. Media accounts suggest that the pursuit came to an abrupt halt when the man deliberately rammed his vehicle into a marked police car outside the federal building on State Street.
While initial reports do not indicate what may have led police to determine that the man was intoxicated, they do suggest that he was belligerent and confrontational with troopers the entire time. The two state troopers inside the police vehicle allegedly struck by the man’s car escaped the collision without injury.
Frustrations can build and tempers can flare when individuals have acted recklessly, but experienced criminal defense attorneys may urge those facing drunk driving charges to remain calm and cooperate with police. The vast majority of criminal cases are resolved by plea agreements, and defendants who antagonize law enforcement could make it more difficult for their attorneys to negotiate favorable terms.
Source: ABC 13 Rochester, “Police: Man charged with DWI after crashing into police car, fleeing scene”, Staff report, April 20, 2018
