Long Island man steals NY State Police car after slipping out of handcuffs during DWI arrest

BABYLON, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — A Long Island man who was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated on the Southern State Parkway Friday morning had to be re-apprehended after slipping out of his handcuffs and stealing the New York State Police car he was in, officials said.

Just before 5:30 a.m., state police responded to a property damage crash near Exit 39 on the Southern State Parkway in Babylon.

Troopers interviewed 37-year-old John Gibson of Copiague, and placed him under arrest after he failed field sobriety tests, state police said.

Gibson was handcuffed and seat-belted in the back of a state police patrol vehicle, but officials said in a press release that he “managed to slip his handcuffs to the front, freed himself from the seat belt, climbed into the front seat of the patrol vehicle and drove off from the scene.”

Troopers, with the help of Suffolk County Police, found the stolen car about three miles away on Matthews Avenue in West Babylon.

Gibson was found shortly after in a nearby cemetery, and taken back into custody.

He was charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle, escape, resisting arrest, obstruction of governmental administration and unlawful fleeing a police officer in addition to two counts of driving while intoxicated and two speeding violations.

Authorities said that after his arrest, Gibson was transported to SP Brentwood for processing, and at his arraignment on Friday he pleaded not guilty to all charges.