Police: Man Rode Jet Ski Drunk, Resisted Arrest in Port Washington Waters

A man riding a jet ski in Port Washington waters was arrested Sunday night for boating while intoxicated and for resisting arrest, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said.

According to the DA, Wilfred Ford, 51, of the Bronx, was speeding in his Yamaha jet ski with a passenger at 8 p.m., which is prohibited during nighttime hours.

A Town of North Hempstead Bay Constable approached Ford to request his license and registration and noticed he had severely slurred speech, glassy and bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, the DA reports.

Reports say Ford refused several commands from officers to be seated while officers checked his license and registration. He allegedly jumped overboard into Manhasset Bay waters before eventually re-boarding the Town boat and refusing to be arrested. A physical struggle broke out while Ford refused arrest and the Bay Constable suffered a laceration to his thumb, police said.

The Bay Constables received assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Nassau County Police Department Marine Bureau and an off-duty NYPD officer who was passing by on his personal boat during the stop.

Ford was arrested by the NCPD and charged with resisting arrest, boating while intoxicated, operating a vessel while intoxicated, operating between sunset and sunrise and imprudent speed.

He was arraigned in Nassau County District Court and was released to probation and ordered to the STEP program. Prosecutors requested bail of $3,500 and the suspension of his privileges to operate boats or jet skis. He faces a maximum of one year in jail if convicted of the top charge.

Image via NCPD