RHINEBECK – A New York State Police Sergeant was dragged alongside a car driven by a fugitive that he was seeking to apprehend on Wednesday morning. The harrowing incident occurred in Rhinebeck at approximately 1:30 a.m. on February 16th and resulted in two men being arrested.
The suspects, Nicholas Antunano and Anothony Delfino have been arrested after the incident.
The State Troopers say that Troop K Sergeant Gregory Lischak was on patrol Thursday morning when he attempted to stop a Hyundai sedan for a traffic violation. Sources told Mid-Hudson News that the traffic stop occurred near the intersection of NYS Route 9G and Violet Hill Road in Rhinebeck. The sergeant determined that 23-year-old Nicholas Antunano, the driver, was wanted on an outstanding warrant issued by the Town of Poughkeepsie court.
The trooper attempted to take Antunano into custody when the wanted subject abruptly drove away, dragging the trooper approximately 600 feet, according to Mid-Hudson News sources.
Additional troopers responded to Lischak’s call for assistance and converged on the area. A short time later, according to State Police, the vehicle was located in the Village of Rhinebeck. The driver refused to stop and police gave chase. The two occupants eventually exited the vehicle and attempted to run away but were apprehended by pursuing police.
The passenger in the initial stop was taken into custody and identified as Anthony Delfino, 24. The preliminary investigation determined that while Delfino was the passenger in the vehicle during the initial traffic stop, he was the driver when being pursued by State Police into the village of Rhinebeck.
State Police located Antunano a short time later at Northern Dutchess Hospital.
Sergeant Lischak suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at a local hospital and released.
Delfino was arrested and charged with Unlawful Fleeing, Driving While Intoxicated, and numerous traffic violations. He was processed without incident and released.
Antunano was arrested and charged with Assault, Unlawful Fleeing, Driving While Intoxicated, and traffic violations. He was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond.
