Unlike an Ohio police chase, this one did not involve 60 police cars with 75 cops and 137 shots fired.
CHASE ENDS WITH CAR INSIDE ROTTERDAM BANK, DRIVER ARRESTED
NEWS10.com
August 2, 2013
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Two women and a male teenager led police on a wild ride through Schenectady Thursday night, taking out a stop sign and fire hydrant before coming to a stop inside of a Trusco Bank on Altamont Avenue in Rotterdam.
Police say 25-year-old Natasha Popolizio, of Schenectady, was the driver in a pursuit that started in Schenectady around 6:30 p.m. and ended in Rotterdam a half-hour later. She was taken into custody at the scene of the bank, along with an adult female and 15-year-old male that were also in the car.
The chase began earlier in the afternoon when both Schenectady and Scotia police revived calls saying someone in a similar vehicle was waving around a hand gun; another caller said someone in the car shot them with a BB gun. When Schenectady police tried to stop Popolizio for questioning, she took off. Police say the 15-year-old was waving the BB gun around during the pursuit.
The BB gun, cocaine and marijuana were all recovered from the vehicle.
On Friday, Schenectady Police have charged Popolizio with Criminal Possession of a Narcotic 4th, three counts of Reckless Endangerment 1st, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer, Criminal Possession of Marijuana, Unlicensed Operation and Reckless Driving, plus 41 vehicle and traffic law violations. Additional charges are pending with the Rotterdam Police Department.
Popolizio was released from prison in June and is now on parole. She served three years behind bars after pleading guilty to felony first-degree Reckless Endangerment for attempting to run over a police officer in Johnstown in February 2008.
The passenger in the car, 22-year-old Margariata Lopez of Schenectady, was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of Narcotic 4th.
All three were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after crashing into the Trustco Bank. Popolizio was arraigned Friday afternoon at Albany Medical Center where she is being treated for her injuries. The minor will likely be charged in family court according to police.
Police guarded the bank throughout the night due to the extensive damage.
Police are also looking into a connection with another incident last week where staff at a YMCA day care in Scotia reported that 3 people, including two children, were shot with a BB gun. Police say the vehicle description does match Popolizios car.
No comments:
Post a Comment