Upstate Man Steals Police Car, Tries To Run Over Officers: NYSP

EAST FISHKILL, NY — An Otsego County man is facing multiple felonies after being accused of trying to kill a police officer with a stolen police vehicle.

The New York State Police said members of the East Fishkill Police Department were sent around 12:15 p.m. Friday to a home on Hortontown Road for a burglary in progress.

Law enforcement said the suspect ran when confronted inside the home.

Outside, the man was able to get into an unmarked police vehicle. He then drove directly at the officers at which time one East Fishkill police officer discharged one ineffective round toward the vehicle, police said.

The suspect, later identified as Joseph Gourd, 41, of Oneonta, Otsego County, fled the scene going south on the Taconic State Parkway before crashing near Route 301, authorities said.

Additional responding agencies, which included the Town of Kent Police Department, Town of Carmel Police Department K-9, New York State Park Police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police and Department of Environment Conservation Forest Rangers, converged on the area to assist with a multi-agency coordinated search.

Gourd was located and taken into custody.

He was arraigned in the Town of East Fishkill Court and charged with:

• First-degree attempted murder of a police officer, a felony
• Second-degree burglary, a felony
• First-degree reckless endangerment, a felony
• Third-degree grand larceny, a felony
• Fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony

Gourd was sent to the Dutchess County Jail and is due back in court Sept. 6.