John Gibson, 37, of Copiague steals police car after DWI arrest, state police say

A DWI arrest turned into a multiagency effort to recapture a Copiague man who, after he was arrested and handcuffed, allegedly stole a state police cruiser and fled the scene, officials said.

Responding to calls of a property damage crash involving a car leaving the roadway and entering the tree line on the Southern State Parkway near Deer Park Avenue in North Babylon just before 5:30 a.m. Friday, troopers interviewed driver John Gibson, 37, of Copiague, according to a news release from New York State Police.

Troopers suspected Gibson was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and conducted a field sobriety test, officials said. After Gibson failed the field test, authorities said troopers placed him under arrest, handcuffed him, and seat-belted him into the backseat of a state police cruiser.

While troopers continued their investigation, state police allege Gibson slipped his handcuffs to his front, freed himself from the seat belt, climbed into the front seat of the patrol vehicle and drove away from the scene.

State police said the Suffolk County Police Department helped troopers locate the stolen patrol car about three miles west of the scene of the crash on Matthews Avenue in West Babylon. Gibson was subsequently found in a nearby cemetery and taken back into custody, authorities said.

Additional information regarding the nature of the property damage crash that kicked off the proceeding events was not immediately available from state police Friday afternoon.

On Friday, Gibson pleaded not guilty to a pair of charges of driving while intoxicated, two speeding violations, as well as charges of fourth-degree grand larceny; fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property; first-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle; third degree escape; resisting arrest; second-degree obstruction of governmental administration; and third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer, according to court documents.

Gibson is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society, according to court records.