Cop Car Flipped After Chase Involving Alleged Drugged Driver

Via MattarMedia - In Warren County, a sheriff's deputy escapes serious injury after his vehicle flips over after a chase with an alleged drugged driver. Tonight, that driver faces multiple charges including felony DWAI. Police say you should be just as concerned about drugged drivers as drunk drivers out on the road.

The windshield and headlight are smashed, the roof is dented after a Warren County Sheriff's vehicle flipped after a chase with an alleged drugged driver. Police say 38-year-old Brett Johnson had been drinking and smoking pot and led them on that chase. Police say lately, they have seen an increase in drugged drivers. Warren County Sheriff Bud York says, "we are seeing more prescription pills. A lot of people borrowing, stealing them and taking them and driving."

Another driver was allegedly under the influence of drugs and charged with DWAI in a Colonie crash just last weekend. That crash was fatal, killing another driver. Lynda Rose, the Clinical Supervisor for Outpatient Treatment at the Addiction Care Center of Albany says, "its a misfortune to the community that they are out there and that's why we are here."

At the Addiction Care Center of Albany, they're seeing a larger number of drug addicted patients. They say a drugged driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver.
Rose says, "could be heightened awareness, lowered awareness, going into a seizure, convulsion. Depends on what they are on and how they are taking it and how often."

Johnson faces multiple charges in both Glens Falls where the chase began at a traffic stop, and with the Warren County Sheriff's Department. Those charges include Felony DWAI, resisting arrest, Reckless Endangerment, and unlawfully fleeing a police officer. Police say this isn't Johnson's first offense, but think it should be the last time he is behind the wheel.

Sheriff York says, "its a privilege to drive not a right. And if you're going to drink or do drugs and drive, you could hurt someone. You shouldn't be driving."

Truck pulled from Seneca River, driver not found

Via MattarMedia Baldwinsville (WSYR-TV) - A pick-up truck was pulled from the Seneca River, near Paper Mill Island, Baldwinsville this morning. The truck ended up in the river after a police pursuit. The driver of the truck was not in the truck.

Onondaga County dive teams were called to the scene around 2:00 Monday morning. A tow truck removed the pick-up truck from the Seneca River around 3:30am.

Investigators have left the scene and say they will return at 10 am.

Truck Crashes into House After High-Speed Chase

Via MattarMedia - A truck almost hit a woman before plowing into her house in Batavia, Genesee County, Monday afternoon.

A Genesee County investigator said the truck wouldn't stop after deputies tried to pull him over for speeding. After using a spike strip on the suspect's vehicle it swerved onto South Main Street.

"Then, all of a sudden, I saw the pickup come. It was just erratic. Like it was just going straight for, I saw it go straight for my house. Like, I had to move out of the way basically because I was standing right there. Cause I stand right there where that curb is to wait for my daughter, to wait for my daughter to come home from school," said Luz Castro of Batavia.

"Life is a matter of seconds and inches you know? And luckily, her child wasn't here getting off the bus at that moment," said Investigator Chris Kautz, Genesee County Sheriff's Department.

The driver of the truck, Louis Reeb, 19, of Corfu, was airlifted to Strong Hospital, where he is listed in guarded condition. There is no word yet on what charges Reeb may face.

Police Chase Ends In Fatal Crash

Via MattarMedia - New details on that police pursuit that ended in a head on fatal crash in Columbia County Friday night.

Police say the suspect, who died in that crash, was 44-year-old David Carman of Dover Plains, New York.

Police say Carman took off from a traffic stop in Dutchess County in the Village of Red Hook, taking police on a chase through two counties before hitting a dump truck head on in the Town of Claverack in Columbia County.

The driver of the dump truck was not injured. Police later said the car Carman was driving was stolen.

Police investigate accident involving stolen car, Albany police car

Via MattarMedia ALBANY - Police are investigating an accident involving a stolen car and a city police vehicle that occurred Thursday evening on North Lake Ave.

According to Albany public safety spokesperson Det. James Miller, a plainclothes police officer spotted a stolen Toyota just south of Central Ave. at about 5:15 p.m. and called for marked police units to pull over the stolen vehicle.

When police cars arrived and attempted to pull over the car, the driver, later identified as 18-year-old Dario Lewis, jumped out of the car and started running, said Det. Miller. The stolen car, meanwhile, continued to travel about 40 feet and struck a patrol car.

Both cars were slightly damaged in the accident.

Lewis was caught by police officers after a short chase. Charges are pending against him, including criminal possession of stolen property and reckless endangerment.

The investigation is continuing, said Det. Miller.

6 injured, vehicles struck by erratic driver, police say

Via MattarMedia - A 27-year-old man is facing a slew of traffic tickets and felony charges after he allegedly drove his car into pedestrians, a bicyclist and a vehicle on South Plymouth Avenue Thursday afternoon before leading police on a chase through residential and commercial streets.

Just after 2 p.m., Officer Jeffrey Schroeder was flagged down by people in front of a Sunoco gas station and mini-mart at 700 S. Plymouth Ave. He then witnessed a silver Nissan Maxima driving erratically.

While doing doughnuts in the lot, the vehicle struck a bicyclist, another vehicle and about three pedestrians in the parking lot area of the gas station.

Schroeder attempted to pull over the Maxima but the vehicle rammed into the police car a few times before pulling onto South Plymouth Avenue and leading police on a chase.

Police said the Maxima struck another vehicle at Jefferson Avenue and West Main Street and then struck another police vehicle at Jefferson Avenue and Clifton Street.

There was minor damage to both police vehicles, and no police officers were injured during the pursuit.

The pursuit ended about 2:15 p.m. near the intersection of Brooks Avenue and Genesee Street after the vehicle being chased struck a minivan. Speeds during the chase were over 30 mph but not much faster, Executive Deputy Chief George Market said. During the pursuit, police had lights and sirens on.

The driver of the Maxima, Munir Muthana, 27, of Rochester was taken into custody at the scene and then taken to Strong Memorial Hospital to be treated for some minor injuries, police said. Markert said several alcohol containers were found inside the Maxima, which might have been a contributing factor to his erratic driving.

Muthana is facing multiple charges ranging from vehicular assault and assault to several vehicle and traffic violations. Six civilians were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital to be treated for injuries that were considered to be minor.

Police believe all victims were random bystanders and not targets or acquaintances of the man driving the vehicle.

Rochester man in custody after police chase

Via MattarMedia - A Rochester man is in custody after a police chase down several Rochester streets.

Around 2 p.m., a Rochester Police officer was flagged down in front of a store on South Plymouth Avenue for the report of a man, identified as 27-year-old Munir Muthana, driving erratically.

Police tried to stop Muthana but he did not stop and then struck the officer’s vehicle. A slow-speed pursuit ensued down various streets in southwest Rochester. Muthana’s Nissan Maxima hit a car at Jefferson Avenue and West Main Street.

He continued driving down Jefferson Avenue, hitting a second police vehicle driven by a K-9 sergeant at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Clifton Street.

The pursuit continued and eventually ended on South Plymouth just before the intersection of Genesee Street where Muthana’s car hit another car.

Rochester Police say Muthana will be facing multiple charges including vehicular assault, assault and several vehicle and traffic charges.

Police do not believe Muthana was acquainted with any of the victims of the incident.

No one, including the police officers, were seriously injured.

Watertown Man Charged with Allegedly Leading Police on High Speed Chase

Via MattarMedia - Jefferson County Sheriff's Office arrested Kavon M. Mason, 21, around 10:25 AM on October 26 for unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree.

Mason was wanted for questioning by Watertown City Police after he allegedly pointed a gun at his brother during a domestic incident which occurred earlier at 326 High Street in Watertown.

Sheriff's Deputies saw a red Chevy Monte Carlo at the Nice n' Easy on US Route 11, which belonged to Mason.

He was approached by authorities, but took off and led police on a chase into the Town of LeRay along US Route 11.

Mason was additionally charged with reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, speeding 85 MPH in a 55 MPH zone and 13 other various traffic infractions.

He was arraigned by Judge Parker in the Village of Glen Park and held on $2,500 cash bail, $5,000 bond.

Assisting the Sheriff's Office was the New York State Police and the Watertown City Police.

Watertown Police also have charges pending and recovered a 9 MM handgun in the area of pursuit.