New York State Police Press Release
On September 27, 2024, at about 5:25 a.m., State Police responded to a property damage crash on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 39 in the town of Babylon.
Troopers interviewed the driver, John Gibson, age 37, of Copiague, NY, and suspected he may be under the influence of alcohol and or drugs. Gibson failed Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and was placed under arrest, handcuffed, and seat-belted into the rear of a State Police patrol vehicle.
While Troopers were continuing their investigation, Gibson 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.
With the assistance of the Suffolk County Police Department, Troopers located the stolen patrol vehicle about three miles from the scene on Matthews Avenue in West Babylon. A short time later, Gibson was found in a nearby cemetery and taken back into custody.
Gibson is charged with Grand Larceny 4th Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th Degree (both class E felonies); Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle 1st Degree (class D felony); Escape 3rd Degree, Resisting Arrest, Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd Degree and Unlawful Fleeing a Police officer 3rd Degree (all class A misdemeanors); and Driving While Intoxicated (unclassified misdemeanor),
Gibson was transported to SP Brentwood for arrest processing and will be transported for arraignment.