Police: Boater nearly hit marine unit

Officers aboard a Nassau County Marine Bureau Unit in Freeport on Thursday had to move out of the way to avoid a collision with a boater they later charged with boating while intoxicated, police said.

Police said Gerald Koenig, 44, was headed south in Woodcleft Canal in a 1990 23-foot Rinker when he almost struck the marine patrol unit in a restricted 5 mph no-wake zone. Police said Koenig, of 3990 Wellwood Rd. in Seaford, was operating over the restricted speed limit.

Police said Koenig not only was under the influence of alcohol, but was found to have the prescription painkiller oxycodone.

Koenig was charged with BWI, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and numerous violations of state vehicle, traffic and navigational law, police said.

He is scheduled for arraignment Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.

The vessel was seized.