A Staten Island man tried to flee a police officer while allegedly drunk behind the wheel, eventually overturning the vehicle he was driving and then drinking from a bottle of Champagne in front of the cops, according to police and the criminal complaint.
On Sept. 17, police observed a red 2015 Range Rover speeding at around 40 miles per hour and running through a red light at Daniel Low Terrace and Fort Place in St. George, according to the complaint.
Police pulled over the car and observed a motorist wearing a gray hoodie and gray sweatpants, the complaint states.
When officers approached the car, the driver fled, the complaint states.
The officer lost track of the car, but at 11:33 p.m. police were able to spot the red Range Rover overturned at the intersection of Occident Avenue and Ward Avenue, according to the complaint.
Adam Kamagate, 34, of Concord, allegedly opened the rear passenger door of the car, stuck his head out, but went back inside the vehicle and stood on his knees, the complaint states.
“All I got is a bottle,” Kamagate allegedly said while grabbing a Champagne bottle and drinking from it in front of the cops, police and the complaint say.
Kamagate presented a strong odor of alcohol, a flushed face, slurred speech and was swaying side to side, the complaint alleges.
Police arrested Kamagate, of Concord, and charged him with one charge of unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired by the consumption of alcohol, according to the complaint.
Kamagate is also facing a motor vehicle license violation, as he failed to present a license to police after finally being pulled over.
He is due back in court on Dec. 15 and is currently being held on a $1 bail, public records indicate.
According to the complaint, Kamagate was the only occupant of the car, but his lawyer, Allen Patrick Cappelli, disagrees.
“He was a passenger in the rear of the car,” said Cappelli, adding that four other people were in the car and all fled before police arrived. “He was not the driver and there is no way he could be charged with a driving offense.”
Cappelli further alleges police never identified him by face, but only by the clothing he was wearing.
“There is no identification based upon anything to do with him other than a hoodie,” Cappelli said. “Well, everybody is wearing a hoodie now. The weather is getting colder.”
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