K9 Tracks Driver Who Ran Across The Taconic After Crash: Cops

Two Putnam Sheriff's Deputies and a K-9 partner helped police search for a man who ran across the Taconic Parkway into the woods after driving his Lexus into a ditch. The search took place at about 2:40 a.m. Tuesday.

Deputy Vincent M. Dalo and Sgt. Timothy C. Keith, who are assigned to the K-9 Unit of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the parkway in East Fishkill to assist members of the New York State Police in the search.

The troopers were investigating a 2002 Black Lexus with New York plates found in a ditch in the northbound lane. They had observed a man fleeing the accident scene who ran across both lanes of the northbound parkway, crossed over the southbound lane and into the woods. He had last been seen at the intersection of Hortontown Heights Road and Hortontown Road.

Deputy Dalo retrieved his K-9 partner, Lex, and began searching the area, beginning at the wood line, along with Sgt. Keith.

K-9 Lex tracked along power lines and onto Hortontown Heights Road, then north on Hortontown Road for about a mile, before stopping at a private residence. In the driveway of the residence were two parked cars.

K-9 Lex led deputies to the cars where fresh footprints were observed in the snow.

Sgt. Keith approached the vehicle and saw a man attempting to conceal himself inside.

The man, later identified as 52-year-old Mark Anthony Cahill of Fishkill, NY, was ordered to exit the vehicle, at which time, he complied and was taken into custody without further incident.

The members of the New York State Police were notified and positively identified the individual as the same person fleeing from the scene of the accident. New York State Police charged Cahill with Driving While Intoxicated. and Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

PATCH ARCHIVE PHOTO: K9 Lex and Putnam Sheriff's Deputy Vincent Dalo/ Putnam County Sheriff's Office