A 21-year-old Queens man was arrested after fleeing from police Sunday afternoon after attempting to enter Splish Splash Water Park in Riverhead with what an employee thought was a handgun.
It turned out to be a BB gun that was modeled after a Glock handgun, police said in a press release Sunday evening.
Police said the suspect Shemari McKenzie, of Laurelton, was attempting to enter the park at about 12:30 p.m. when an employee there who was checking McKenzie’s backpack observed what appeared to be a handgun.
McKenzie took his bag and attempted to leave, police said. Splish Splash security followed the suspect and called 911.
McKenzie fled from park security and ran through the parking lot northbound jumping over a fence and crossing over Middle Country Road with the backpack.
Numerous officers responded to the scene and set up a perimeter, police said. A Riverhead Police K9 unit, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and a Suffolk County Police helicopter responded to assist in the search.
McKenzie surrendered to authorities at about 2 p.m., police said. He still had his backpack and weapon in his possession.
He was arrested for Obstructing Governmental Administration, a class A misdemeanor, police said. He was processed and is currently being held pending arraignment, according to the report.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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