MAHOPAC – A New Jersey man, reportedly highly intoxicated, caused quite a ruckus on Lake Mahopac while attempting to swim across the lake.
Carmel Police Chief Michael Cazzari said while patrolling along the lake around 6:45 p.m. Monday, officers were flagged down by a passing boat indicating an intoxicated man was swimming towards Canopus Island from Route 6N. Minutes later, the patrol observed the swimmer identified as Peter Juzwa, 44, of Hillsborough, wearing only a bathing suit and when the officers made contact with the man, he reportedly began cursing at them and continued swimming towards the island.
Once on the island, Chief Cazzari said his officers told Juzwa to remain where he was while they docked the police launch but it’s alleged, the intoxicated man continued screaming at the cops and ran into the woods.
Juzwa’s wife arrived by boat a few moments later and began searching for her husband on the island as did the two officers who were fearful that Juzwa would attempt to swim back to shore and drown.
Other officers from the Carmel Police and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office arrived to assist in the search when a Carmel officer came upon Juzwa on the opposite side of the island floating face up in the water and appearing to be unconscious.
Calls went out for EMS intervention and members of the Mahopac Fire Department and Mahopac Falls Dive Team responded along with a paramedic from the EM STAR Ambulance Company.
As the officers piloted the police launch closer to Juzwa, who reportedly had multiple lacerations on his back, stomach and foot, the chief said Juzwa “opened his eyes and began to yell and scream at the officers before swimming back to shore and taking off into the woods a second time.”
Twenty minutes later, Juzwa was again observed in the water swimming towards Petre Island.
After refusing multiple times to surrender and get into the police boat, Cazzari said the man climbed aboard a private boat that had been in the area. He was taken to shore where he refused medical treatment at the scene.
He was then taken to Carmel Police headquarters and formally charged with obstructing governmental administration, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and trespass. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Carmel Town Court.
Juzwa was finally taken to Putnam Hospital Center by police where he was treated for his injuries.
