Police: Riverhead Man Steals Car, Tries To Push It Into Peconic River Behind McDonald's

State police arrested a Riverhead man who stole a vehicle and tried to push it into the Peconic River in Riverside.

At 1:45 a.m. on Thursday, a female responded to the New York State Police barracks in Riverside and reported that her vehicle, a 2008 Nissan, was forcibly taken at the Valero Gas Station at the Riverside traffic circle in the Town of Southampton, according to police.

Responding troopers searched the area and observed a male suspect, later identified as Michael V. Booker, 29, of Riverhead, attempting to push the vehicle into the Peconic River from the rear parking lot of the McDonald’s restaurant on Flanders Road in Riverside, according to police.

Booker attempted to flee on foot along the riverbank and was quickly apprehended, according to police.

He was charged with second degree robbery, second degree criminal mischief, second degree reckless endangerment and harassment.

He was arraigned at the Southampton Town Justice Court and remanded to the Suffolk County Jail.