Police: Shelton, CT Boater Hits Breakwater While Drunk

On Friday, August 22, the Southold Town Police arrested a Shelton, Connecticut man for operating his boat while drunk after he and his wife were taken to Eastern Long Island Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained when his boat hit a Greenport breakwater.

At 9:33 at night, Robert Skinner, 46, was operating a 1999 Rinker power boat heading westbound when he failed to see the breakwater and struck it. The boat came to an abrupt stop and began taking on water. A boat that had been following them, picked the couple up, and took them to the hospital.

Subsequent to the accident, the Southold Police were called and the Southold Bay Constables, Shelter Island Police, Greenport Fire Department, Southold Fire Department, East Marion Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard and Sea Tow responded to assist.

The Southold Police determined Skinner had been drunk at the time of the accident. Skinner was transported to police headquarters, processed and held for morning arraignment.

The boat was secured to a jetty because of the weather and arrangements were made for it to be towed.