Two Riverhead officers were hurt and a police K-9 has died after investigators say a driver took off from a DWI checkpoint.
Police say the suspect ran down an officer while fleeing on Peconic Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police chased the suspect to Manorville, where investigators say a Riverhead K-9 vehicle responding to the scene lost control on West Main Street, hit a pole and wound up in the woods.
Rocky, a police dog, was ejected from the car and killed. Rocky had served with the police force since 2011.
Witnesses described the heartbreaking scene when the police officer realized his K-9 partner had died.
“He didn't know where the dog was. And when he saw the dog, he just started crying,” said Gabriel Guazhambo, of Riverhead.
The suspect evaded police, and officers called off the chase because it was too dangerous. Police say he was driving a dark-colored Audi sedan.
Both officers suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
Anyone with information that can help investigators is urged to call Riverhead police at 631-727-3333.