Norfolk police officer tells his side of June 18 crash

NORFOLK — In the weeks after a motorcycle accident claimed the life of a Norfolk man, Scott R. Bennett, police officer in charge, heard a lot of rumors around town.

Mr. Bennett had been in pursuit of 48-year-old Shawn J. LaDue in the minutes leading up to the June 18 crash. The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department concluded its investigation of the incident this fall after toxicology reports indicated Mr. LaDue’s blood alcohol content was 0.28 percent, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08, Mr. Bennett said. No charges were filed.

During the investigation, Mr. Bennett remained quiet owing to a gag order placed on the department. With it completed, he decided to tell his side and explain the need for the town Police Department.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen. Now that things are done, I just wanted to squash all the rumors that were occurring,” he said.

“Rumor had it that I bumped him, I ran over him, he rode on the hood of my car,” he said. “That’s not even nowhere near true. ... We didn’t have any contact whatsoever.”

Mr. Bennett said he spotted Mr. LaDue on his motorcycle early that morning traveling at high speed on Route 56. He said he turned on his flashers for a routine traffic stop.

“He pulled over to the right side of the roadway like he was going to stop,” Mr. Bennett said. “He was going through his gears, like he was revving the engine up. He gave me the indication he wasn’t done.” Before stopping completely, Mr. LaDue accelerated, Mr. Bennett said. And Mr. Bennett chose to pursue. “When he took off, he’s giving me an indication that there may be more than met the eye here, that there may have been a more serious crime,” Mr. Bennett said. “I don’t know why he’s taking off. What did he do wrong?”

“I had no knowledge of who this person was whatsoever,” he said. “In New York state, if a crime is committed in the town, I have a right to pursue and find out why he is running.” The pursuit went into the village of Norwood, and then onto County Route 35, where Mr. LaDue failed to negotiate a curve and crashed. Speeds well exceeded the legal limit, Mr. Bennett said.