Bergen Air Boat Helps Rescue Man Who Jumped into River After Robbing Gas Station

Police say a man running from authorities needed them moments later.

Mahwah Rescuers were called in to assist in rescuing a man who was stranded on a rock in the Ramapo River Sunday after holding up a gas station and running from authorities.

Richard Morgan, 49, of Ramapo, NY allegedly held up the Sunoco gas station at the Ramapo Rest Area in Sloatsburg, NY at 7 p.m. Sunday when he fled towards the wooded banks of the Ramapo River off the Waldron Terrace neighborhood, Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli said.

But in an attempt to escape pursuing law enforcement officers, Morgan entered the Ramapo River and became stranded on a rock.

The New York State Police Special Operations Response Team, the NYSP maritime and aviation unit, officers from the Ramapo Police and Rockland County Sheriff’s Department and Mahwah Company #1 Air Boat all responded and took Morgan into custody just before 11 p.m.

Chief Batelli said the Mahwah Company #1 Air Boat “was requested in the event the State Police needed any assistance,” although Cliffview Pilot reports the Mahwah Air Boat actually freed the New York State Police rescue boat that captured Morgan after it became stranded.

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