At 3:15 p.m. Sunday, officers aboard the Westchester County Police Marine Unit’s Marine 3 patrol boat observed a yellow catamaran coming south on the Hudson River at a high rate of speed towards the Tappan Zee Bridge. Due to the current bridge construction project under way, the U.S. Coast Guard has declared the area a Regulated Navigation Area, requiring recreational vessels to operate at speeds under 5 knots.
According to police, the patrol vessel activated its emergency lights and siren, but the yellow catamaran accelerated and refused to stop. The catamaran continued south on the Hudson at speeds of up to 100 mph with Marine 3 in pursuit. A second county police Marine Unit vessel, was on patrol on the Hudson in Yonkers and intercepted the catamaran when it arrived in Yonkers.
Marcus Lomghitano of Highland Mills, N.Y., the vessel's operator, was taken into custody and placed aboard Marine 3. He was transferred to a patrol car on shore and subsequently booked at county police headquarters in Hawthorne.
He was released pending a Sept. 25 appearance in Greenburgh Town Court.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Bronxville and receive free news updates.