By Lee Tugas
A strong work ethic was the downfall of a suspect who fled from Police last week.
A man who allegedly stabbed another man with a grilling fork and later fled the village police station into the night, nevertheless dutifully reported to his job the next day. And that’s where he was caught.
Sean W. Gordon, 23, of Broadway in Whitehall was charged with second degree assault, a Class D felony, for allegedly stabbing another man with a grilling fork at a Broadway residence at roughly 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, village police said.
Gordon had fled the scene when police arrived. But he was minutes later spotted driving a motor vehicle in the immediate vicinity of the alleged crime. Stopped by police, Gordon was given a field sobriety test and his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.21 percent, police said.
Gordon was taken to the village police station for processing. He asked to use the bathroom and his handcuffs were removed. But instead of using the restroom, Gordon bolted out the nearby backdoor, climbed a chain-link fence 8-feet high, and disappeared into the night, after crossing the railroad tracks near the Broadway area, police said.
A search for the fleeing suspect was immediately begun by village police, assisted by Washington County Sheriff’s deputies, the K-9 Team from the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and New York State Police.
Work ethic leads to arrest
Despite the search, Gordon remained missing for more than seven hours. But the next morning, village police received word that Gordon could be found on the job at his place of employment, village police said.
At approximately 7:30 a.m., village police arrested Gordon at Maplewood Ice, where he had reported for his regular daily shift, police confirmed. Placed again under arrest, Gordon was additionally charged with driving while intoxicated and with third-degree escape, a Class A misdemeanor.
Gordon was arraigned in Whitehall Village Court and remanded to the Washington County Jail for lack of $5,000 cash and/or $10,000 bond.
Police Chief Matt Dickinson was not in his office on Monday and thus not available for comment. But he is on record as saying that the incident will be reviewed to make certain that correct police procedures were followed and determine if any disciplinary action is required.
