NEW YORK– A Long Island man arrested for driving under the influence managed to escape police custody after shoving handcuffs over his head and stealing a patrol car, New York police said.
He was later apprehended at a cemetery miles away and arrested again.
The 37-year-old man was arrested 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 put in the back of a police vehicle, officials said.
While officers weren’t looking, the man managed to slip his handcuffs forward, freed himself from the seat belt, climbed into the front seat of the patrol vehicle and drove 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, with the man in a nearby cemetery.
He pleaded not guilty Friday to charges including grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle and driving under the influence and other charges.
A message left with his attorney was not returned.