Multi-State Car Chase Leaves Officer Hurt, Teens In Custody

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Police from the Westchester County Police Department, the New Rochelle Police Department and the Eastchester Police Department had their hands full with teens running amok, but officials say that after a few close calls, law and order prevailed.

The Westchester County Police Department says that three suspects traveling in two stolen cars were arrested on Thursday "despite their efforts to flee from the long arm of the law and the great nose of tracking canine Wren." Unfortunately, an officer was injured after one of the suspects, a 19-year-old woman, deliberately rammed his patrol car in her effort to escape.

Police say that the incident began at 2:18 p.m. when the Real Time Crime center broadcast an alert that two stolen cars were traveling together on southbound I-684. A WCPD patrol officer was waiting when the two vehicles entered the Hutchinson River Parkway and he followed them south. Other officers gathered in New Rochelle, where they attempted to make a traffic stop, but neither driver complied.

The first stolen vehicle, a 2019 Audi A6 stolen in Milford, Connecticut, exited at Wilmot Road in New Rochelle and then crashed nearby. The 17-year-old driver and the 15-year-old passenger bailed out of the car and fled through nearby streets and yards.

The WCPD and the NRPD established a perimeter, and Patrol Officer Hearle and his Bloodhound partner Wren arrived. Along with two Emergency Service Unit officers, Officer Hearle and Wren started to track the two fleeing suspects and soon found them hiding in a Northwoods Circle backyard.

At the same time, the second stolen vehicle, a 2019 BMW sedan reported stolen in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, continued south on the Hutchinson River Parkway and tried to evade Westchester County and Eastchester Police Department officers near Mill Road.

The 19-year-old driver then rammed a WCPD patrol car when an officer boxed her in, police said. The driver was taken into custody and the officer was taken to an area hospital, where it was determined that he had suffered a significant leg injury.

The three teens were taken to Westchester County Police Department headquarters and booked on multiple charges.

The 15-year-old was charged as a juvenile and released to his parents.

The 17-year-old was arraigned and remanded to Woodfield Cottage. His charges include fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property and third degree criminal possession of a weapon (due to a high-capacity ammo magazine found in the car). Police say that he is also wanted on a warrant by the Waterbury Police Department.

The 19-year-old was charged with second degree assault, third degree criminal possession of stolen property, fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, third degree criminal mischief, fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle and reckless driving. In addition, stolen credit cards were found in the car she had been driving.

"All around, this was a terrific job by multiple officers from Patrol, the Conditions Unit and ESU," the WCPD said in a statement. "Our thanks to the NRPD and Eastchester PD for their teamwork and assistance. We’re hoping for a speedy recovery for our officer who was hurt in the apprehension of these multi-state car thieves."