Driver Crashes In Front Of Courthouse With Bottle of Vodka

An unidentified man driving a blue sedan sideswiped one car and smashed head-on into an SUV in front of the Manhattan Criminal Court building just before noon yesterday, the Daily News reports. He then stumbled out of the vehicle and collapsed on the pavement as firefighters put out his car's small engine fire. It was then that they noticed the bottle of vodka that had been riding shotgun. According to the News, Department of Sanitation cops cuffed him until the NYPD got there. (Sanitation cops carry handcuffs?!) Fortunately, no one was injured in the crash, and charges against the driver are pending. To be sure, crashing in front of the courthouse was a nice gesture, but next time he wants to help streamline government services, he should drive drunk over to Rikers.

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By John Del Signore in News on December 3, 2010 1:02 PM

Comments [rss]

jaycjay

"(Sanitation cops carry handcuffs?!) "

Of course they do. Why would any cop not carry handcuffs while on duty?

San cops aren't like traffic enforcement agents. They're actually cops, NYS-certified peace officers.

ocm123

And yes, Del Signore, that means they are armed. For someone who writes about the police everyday, it is amazing how little Del Signore knows about law enforcement in NYC.

Just Me

Might as well go out with a bang.

nolastname

Until NYPD got there? It is a court house, what happened to security?

jaycjay

A) This didn't happen inside the courthouse.
B) Security at the courthouse is provided by NYS Court Officers... who have exactly the same law enforcement powers as DoS Police; they're both NYS peace officers. So there'd be no reason for them to take custody from the sanitation cops, because all they would do themselves is the exact same thing: hold him until NYPD got there.

Which was probably about two minutes.

girodavivere

the criminal court and central booking are in the same building (100 centre), right?

Guest

look! its a dumbass!

fuboy

More specifically, a North American Red-Nosed Dumbass. Quite common in this city. Plumage can vary from Carhartt jeans and flannel to thee piece suits but always characterized by wild, outlandish behavior and a propensity for vehicular homicide. Occasionally you'll see one in a uniform, but those are highly protected and certain officials deny they exist. Always exercise caution around a Dumbass, they're unpredictable and often violent.