Street sweeper charged with DWI after low-speed chase in New York

VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. -- Police say a street sweeper was arrested on DWI charges after a low-speed pursuit on Long Island.

At about 7:52 Thursday night, State Police received multiple reports of an erratic street sweeper traveling eastbound on the Southern State Parkway east of Exit 17.

A trooper found the vehicle in the vicinity of Exit 22 and tried to pull it over. The driver fled and continued eastbound at 35 miles per hour, authorities say.

According to police, after a five minute pursuit, the driver stopped the vehicle west of Exit 26 and surrendered.

48-year old Jerry Mitchell of Brooklyn is charged with Aggravated DWI (BAC 0.18% or more) and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the Third Degree in addition to other traffic charges.

He told police he was going to go around the corner to get candy and got lost, authorities said.

Mitchell was arraigned Friday afternoon, with bail set at $2,500. He is due back in court Jan. 6.