Police

Cops: Riverhead man flees police, crashes car into motel

Alfred Cowell. (Credit: Riverhead Town Police Department)
Alfred Cowell. (Credit: Riverhead Town Police Department)

A Riverhead man was arrested Saturday after fleeing from police and crashing his vehicle into the Greenview Inn on West Main Street, Riverhead Town police said.

Riverhead Town Police Department’s C.O.P.E. Unit observed Alfred Cowell, 35, driving a black Honda erratically at around 7 p.m. in Polish Town, police said.

Mr. Cowell then “attempted to flee the area at an unreasonable speed,” traveled westbound on Route 25 and turned into the motel’s entrance when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a concrete wall at the entrance to the motel, officials said.

Mr. Cowell then fled on foot and apprehended by police shortly after, officials said.

He was charged with reckless driving, unlawfully fleeing a police officer, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and numerous vehicle and traffic violations, police said.

This isn’t the first time Mr. Cowell has been accused of fleeing police.

In May 2014, he was arrested on drug charges and traffic violations after fleeing the scene of a motor vehicle accident in Riverhead.

In 2011, Mr. Cowell caught the eye of Southampton Town police near Lake Avenue in Riverside after they observed him failing to signal a left turn and not wearing a seat belt, police said. An officer tried to pull him over, but Mr. Cowell instead fled in his car to the rear of the Budget Host Inn near the Route 24 traffic circle, where he failed to make a turn and had to stop to avoid crashing, officials said.

Southampton Town police also arrested Mr. Cowell in September 2013 on drug charges.

In March 2014, the Riverhead Police Department turned Mr. Cowell over to Southampton Town police after he was caught on an active bench warrant for failing to show up in court in Southampton.