NEW HARTFORD — A 17-year-old male was arrested and charged with multiple offenses after leading New Hartford police on a vehicle pursuit and fleeing the scene of a reported suspicious incident at The Sitrin Home on Tilden Ave. Tuesday morning.
Police responded at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 26 after staff reported a suspicious vehicle that had been parked in the facility’s lot since about 6:45 a.m.
Staff initially attempted to have two males, who were observed sleeping in the vehicle, vacate the premises, but they remained until police were called.
Upon arrival, a police officer found that the license plates on the vehicle were reported stolen from a different vehicle.
When the male passenger alerted the driver to the officer’s presence, the driver started the vehicle and sped away, damaging a section of lawn while fleeing toward Higby Rd.
Police pursued the vehicle but ended the chase when it became unsafe.
With the assistance of the Utica Police Department, officers were able to identify and locate the driver later in the day.
Authorities determined the operator of the vehicle to be a 17-year-old male, who was already facing pending felony charges in an unrelated matter and was being held in a detention facility.
On Friday afternoon, Aug. 30, the teen was formally charged by New Hartford police with one count of criminal mischief for recklessly damaging property, one count of unlawful fleeing a police officer, one count of reckless driving—all misdemeanors—and 30 vehicle and traffic law violations.
The 17-year-old remains in custody as law enforcement determines if additional charges will be brought as the case proceeds in Oneida County Youth Part Court and Town Court.
