NORTH FORK, N.Y. — Police have released new details about the man who, while trying to elude police, fell over a guardrail and into the Long Island Sound at 67 Steps Beach in Greenport Monday.
According to Southold Township Police, Roger Foster, 56, of The Villages, Florida, was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal contempt. third degree criminal mischief; numerous violations of the traffic law. unlawful escape; and two outstanding warrants.
On Monday at 10:57 a.m., Southold Town police responded to a report of Foster allegedly slashing the tire of a vehicle parked in the Southold Town Hall Annex parking lot, police said.
The caller provided a description and license plate number of the vehicle he was operating, police said. At approximately 11:37 a.m., a Southold Town police officer spotted the suspect vehicle traveling west on County Road 48 in Peconic. the officer initiated a traffic stop and Foster stopped briefly, but then fled westbound on CR 48, police said.
Southold officers chased Foster into Riverhead, police said.
According to Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, Foster took off leading to a 45 minute chase. headed west toward Riverhead, then made a U-turn and drove east on New York State Route 25 before returning to County Road 48 again, Flatley said. “It was on almost every street,” he said.
At some points, the man was running at about 100 miles per hour, Flatley said. The Suffolk County Air Force had helicopters relaying Foster's location to officers, police said.
Foster turned north onto Sound Street in Greenport, speeding toward the end of the road and the barrier, police said. Ignoring the end of the road, he continued at a high rate of speed, crashed into the wooden barrier and launched his vehicle into the air over the bluff, eventually landing in the water, police said.
Officers rushed down the stairs to the vehicle, which was partially submerged, police said.
Officers broke the driver's side window, opened the door and freed Foster, who remained awake and alert, police said. He was arrested and taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center to be treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Rapid Recovery Towing responded with a heavy-duty tow truck and lifted the vehicle up the bluff and onto the roadway. The vehicle was then impounded, police said. Once released from the hospital, Foster will be transported to Southold Township police headquarters, where he will be processed and held for criminal charges, police said.
