Police

Cops: Driver fled from police during traffic stop in Riverside

Brown Street and Old Quogue Road

Riverhead police are searching for the driver who fled from two officers Monday night during a traffic stop in Riverside, according to a press release.

After the officers pulled over a 2014 Ford Fusion shortly before 8 p.m. near the traffic circle, the driver put his vehicle into gear while police interviewed him, officials said. Officer Chris Burns attempted to stop him by reaching for his keys, the report states.

The driver, known to police but not identified in the report, then drove off heading south on Route 24, officials said.

A short while later, the vehicle was found crashed into a fence and abandoned on the corner of Brown Street and Old Quogue Road, police said.

The New York State police K9 unit and Suffolk County police aviation assisted in the investigation, officials said.

Riverhead police impounded the vehicle and expect to file several charges against the suspect once he’s caught, including unlawful fleeing of a police officer, second-degree reckless endangerment and numerous vehicle and traffic summonses, officials said.

The officers weren’t injured during the incident.

No other details were immediately available.

Image credit: Google Maps