A 63-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after crashing his vehicle through the front gate of the East Hampton estate owned by musicians Jay-Z and Beyonce. The man, who is from the Bronx, was reportedly driving at a high rate of speed up the driveway when he failed to stop at the closed mechanical gates, causing significant damage.
Police officers responded to the incident and placed the man under arrest. He was subsequently taken to Stoney Brook Hospital for evaluation of pain. His vehicle was impounded as officers completed an affidavit for criminal trespass and criminal mischief.
According to Detective/Sergeant Jennifer Dunn, the man appeared confused at the scene and after his arrest. He has no prior criminal history and did not make any threats or mention the residents of the home. Investigators are exploring the possibility that the man may have been experiencing a medical issue or did not realize who owned the property. The investigation is ongoing.
Reports indicate that the man had briefly stopped at another nearby home earlier, asking for a woman by name. The resident of that home told officers that the man seemed confused. Dunn confirmed that no weapons, notes, or direct threats were found, and no mention was made of the celebrity couple, leaving authorities uncertain if the man was aware of their residency.
Jay-Z and Beyonce purchased the seven-bedroom, seven-and-a-half-bathroom mansion in 2017 for $26 million. Representatives for the couple have not yet returned requests for comment. The incident was first reported by the East Hampton Star.