Two men allegedly stole items from Price Chopper in Cobleskill and then led police on a high speed chase in a stolen car through four towns before crashing into a ditch in the Town of Schoharie early Saturday morning.
At about 1:40am, one of the two men took merchandise and ran out of Price Chopper without paying for it, got into a waiting vehicle and the driver sped off, according to the Cobleskill Village Police.
The police were called, responded to the store, and observed the vehicle traveling recklessly at a high rate of speed on West Main Street. They attempted to stop the vehicle and the driver failed to comply.
The driver proceeded to unlawfully flee police officers through the Town of Richmondville, the Town of Cobleskill, the town and village of Middleburgh, and the town and village of Schoharie, according to police.
The suspects' vehicle lost control at the intersection of Schoharie Hill Road and Sunnyside Road in the Town of Schoharie and came to rest in a ditch, police added. The two men were taken into custody at that time without incident. No injuries were sustained by the suspects.
Upon further investigation at the scene, it was determined that the men had stolen the car earlier in the evening from a home in Chittenango, and that the driver was intoxicated, police said.
The driver was identified as Carl Reynolds Jr., 18, of Canastota, the passenger was Jacob D. Buchanan, 23, formerly of Richland.
Mr. Reynolds was charged with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a Class D felony, third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor; unlawfully fleeing a police officer, driving while intoxicated, petty larceny, reckless driving, and speed in zone, according to police.
He was arraigned in the Town of Cobleskill Court and sent to jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond to return to court on December 15, police added.
Mr. Buchanan was charged with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, petty larceny, and third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, police said.
He was arraigned in the Town of Cobleskill Court and sent to jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond to return to court on December 15.
The Cobleskill Village Police were assisted at the scene by the State Police who filed additional traffic charges against Mr. Reynolds, police added.
The Village Police also were assisted in the investigation by the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the Schoharie County District Attorney's office.