Police: Man Bolted After Giving Officer Fake Name He Could Not Spell
MASTIC, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A man was arrested for fleeing police on Long Island on Wednesday after an officer caught him trying to use a fake name he could not spell, cops said.
A Suffolk County Highway Patrol Bureau officer saw an unattended motorcycle on the left shoulder of the westbound Sunrise Highway, just east of Winters Drive in Mastic around 9:45 a.m., Suffolk County police said.
The officer then saw the suspect – identified as Jason Quick, 24, of Manorville – running east in the center median of the highway, police said.
Quick allegedly told the officer his helmet had flown off and he was trying to get it, police said. The officer found the helmet and asked Quick to move the motorcycle somewhere safe, authorities said.
The officer asked Quick his name, and Quick said his name was Jonathan, police said. But after multiple attempts, Quick could not spell the name correctly, cops said.
The officer warned Quick it was illegal to give a false name, according to police. At that point, Quick gave the name Joseph – actually the name of his brother, authorities said.
Finally, Quick gave the officer his real name, police said. But when the officer went back to his squad car to run Quick's name, Quick bolted and ran across Sunrise Highway into the woods, cops said.
A manhunt ensued involving canine and aviation units, and several residents called 911 to help track Quick, police said. He was finally found and arrested at Brookhaven Calabro Airport around 10:30 a.m., police said.
Quick was charged with criminal impersonation, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, criminal trespass and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He was also issued three traffic tickets.
Quick was to be held overnight at the Suffolk County Seventh Precinct police station and arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip on Thursday.
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