HV Man Drove Front-End Loader While Drunk: PD

WALLKILL, NY — A Town of Wallkill resident faces felony charges after he was accused of driving a stolen front-end loader while drunk. Wallkill police were called to the parking lot of Hannaford supermarket on Tower Drive in Wallkill shortly before 12:30 a.m Wednesday because of a report of an intoxicated man operating a front-end loader.

The person who called about the incident said the loader damaged a concrete curb in the parking lot before driving away, police said.

The vehicle was later seen in the vicinity of East Galleria Drive and Ballard Road, and police tried to stop it.

Paul M. Pepe, 42, of Wallkill, who police identified as the driver, failed to stop and continued operating the loader on Ballard Road until he entered the parking lot of 95 Crystal Run Road.

Police said he struck two concrete curbs and a retaining wall.

While police were following him, the loader's bucket was dragging along the ground, significantly slowing the machine down.

Eventually, police said Pepe lost control of the loader and drove off the parking lot roadway.

He was arrested and charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, felonies, and third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, reckless endangerment of property, fourth-degree criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated and third-degree unlicensed operation, misdemeanors.

Pepe was released with an appearance ticket to appear in the Town of Wallkill Court Feb. 14.

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