Allegedly Tried to Flee Coast Guard
Suffolk County police arrested a man for boating while intoxicated after he allegedly attempted to flee from the Coast Guard and beached his boat in West Islip.
On June 5, Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau and the U.S. Coast Guard responded after a 911 caller reported a 24-foot vessel allegedly moving erratically in the water of the Great South Bay, west of Captree Island, at approximately 8 p.m.
When the Coast Guard arrived at the scene, the boat operator attempted to flee from the Coast Guard and beached the boat, causing the engine to overheat and catch fire. The operator then shut off the engine, which extinguished the fire. The operator was taken into custody by Marine Bureau officers.
The boat operator, Abimal Acosta, was brought to Timber Point, where a Suffolk County Police SAFE Team officer responded for field testing and arrested Acosta.
Acosta, 58, of West Islip, was charged with Boating While Intoxicated at 10:18 p.m.
He was held overnight at the Third Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on June 6.