EAST FISHKILL – The manhunt for a suspect who stole an unmarked police car shortly after noon on Friday has been terminated. The suspect was taken into custody at approximately 3:15 p.m.
East Fishkill police responded to a report of a burglary in progress at 12:15 p.m. on Hortontown Road in Hopewell Junction. The officers interrupted the burglar, now identified as 41-year-old felon Joseph Gourd. At some point during the encounter, an officer fired their weapon in the direction of the suspect.
Gourd gained access to an unmarked East Fishkill police car and sped away. He continued, traveling south on the Taconic State Parkway until a collision near the intersection with Route 301 at Fahenstock State Park disabled the police vehicle.
Gourd, who has been in and out of prison for nearly half of his life, fled on foot.
A large-scale manhunt ensued in the state park with multiple agencies searching for the suspect. Officers were given a description of the convict and were advised that he was to be considered “dangerous”.
East Fishkill Town Supervisor Nick D’Alessandro told Mid-Hudson News that no East Fishkill officers had been injured in the series of events on Friday, September 1, 2023.
