Police: Saugerties Man Poses as Price Chopper Employee, Back Flips in the Break Room

A Saugerties man pretended he was a Price Chopper store manager and barricaded himself in the employee break room, the Saugerties Police Department said in a press release Friday.

The 24-year-old arrived at the store at 2:07AM and proceeded to wander around the Ulster Avenue store wearing Price Chopper employee identification.

The man approached the overnight store manager as he was stocking shelves. When the manager asked the man who he was and what he was doing, the 24-year-old insisted he was the store manager. Police said the man then barricaded himself in the employee break room and refused to leave.

When members of the Saugerties Police Emergency Response Team and K9 Unit arrived and gained access to the break room, the man jumped up on the table and attempted a back flip, landing on the floor on his back.

The 24-year-old then shouted at the officers, claiming they had flipped him off the table and hurt him, according to the press release. The officers were equipped with body cameras and the footage showed no officer touching the man until after he landed, the Saugerties Police Department said.

The 24-year-old was taking into custody under the New York State Mental Hygiene Law transported to the Kingston Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and criminal impersonation.

The Hudson Valley Post is withholding the man's name because of the nature of the charges and the psychiatric issue connected to the arrest.