TOWN OF WALLKILL – A Town of Wallkill man has been charged with grand larceny and DWI among other things after he drove a frontend loader shortly after midnight on Wednesday, January 29, leading police on a low-speed chase.
Paul Pepe, 42, was also charged criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle, reckless endangerment of property, criminal mischief and aggravated unlicensed operation.
At 12:20 a.m., town police officers responded to a report of an intoxicated man operating the machine in the parking lot of Hannaford on Tower Drive.
The caller reported the vehicle damaged a concrete curb in the parking lot before driving away.
Police then spotted the vehicle in the vicinity of East Galleria Drive and Ballard Road and attempted to stop it. Pepe continued to drive on Ballard Drive until he entered the parking lot of 95 Crystal Run Road where he struck two concrete curbs and a retaining wall.
During the pursuit, the vehicle’s bucket dragged along the ground, significantly slowing it down.
After a period of time, Pepe lost control driving off the parking lot where he was arrested.
He was released with an appearance ticket to Wallkill Town Court later this month.
