NEW YORK — A Long Island man facing drunken driving arrest managed to escape police custody after handcuffing himself and stealing a patrol car, according to the New York Police Department.
He was later apprehended at a cemetery miles away and arrested again.
The 37-year-old man was stopped by state troopers around 5:30 a.m. Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence. After failing a field sobriety test, he was arrested, handcuffed and placed in the back of a police vehicle, officials said.
While the officers were not looking, the man “managed to slide his handcuffs forward, free himself from his seat belt, climb into the front seat of the patrol vehicle and drive away from the scene,” according to a statement from the state. police.
The car was later found about 3 miles (4.8 km) away, police said, while the man was in a nearby cemetery.
He pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that included grand theft, criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle and driving while intoxicated, among other charges.
A message left with his attorney was not returned.