Westchester County man arrested following pursuit
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Robin H. Benziger
Troop K Commander
Fishkill, New York – On May 14, 2016, the New York State Police from Wappinger arrested Mark A. Conklin, age 43, of Verplanck, New York, following a vehicle pursuit that began in the Village of Fishkill. The defendant was charged with Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree, Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree, all Misdemeanors.
Troopers attempted to stop a 1997 Honda traveling north on State Route 9 for a window tint violation. As the Trooper activated emergency lighting directing the offending vehicle to stop, the Honda quickly exited Route 9 toward the rear of the Mavis Tire parking lot. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Conklin, drove through the grass into an adjacent parking area and re-entered Route 9 northbound. Conklin continued on Route 9 and refused to stop for police. At the intersection of Route 9 and Old Hopewell Road, Conklin failed to stop at a red traffic signal and struck a 2011 Honda CR-V operated by 36-year-old Syreeta Jones of Wappinger. Conklin fled the accident scene and started traveling eastbound on Myers Corners Road. Jones was not injured as a result of the collision.
The pursuit continued through the Town of Wappinger, the Town of Poughkeepsie, and ended in the City of Poughkeepsie on Corlies Avenue. Conklin drove toward the dead-end area of Corlies Avenue, exited the roadway into a wooded area where his vehicle came to rest after striking multiple bushes. Troopers placed Conklin in custody and transported him to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital for an evaluation.
Conklin was charged with possessing crack-cocaine and operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.
The defendant was arraigned in the Village of Fishkill Court in front of the Honorable Michael A. Martin and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.
