JOHNSON CITY, NY — A Binghamton man and a Harpursville woman are facing a total of 10 felonies, along with various misdemeanors and traffic violations following a stolen vehicle pursuit through multiple jurisdictions that ended in a restaurant parking lot.
On Thursday, members of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol observed a white Infiniti G35 traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed in the area of State Route 17 in the Town of Vestal at approximately 9:58 p.m.
The Infiniti matched the description of a vehicle reported stolen in Binghamton and was observed swerving dangerously between other vehicles at a high rate of speed.
The responding deputy activated emergency lights and sirens, and the driver of the Infiniti failed to comply, accelerating to speeds exceeding 120 mph while continuing east on Route 17 through Binghamton and onto Interstate Route 81 north into the Town of Chenango.
The driver of the stolen vehicle then fled east onto Interstate Route 88 through the Town of Fenton into Colesville, taking Exit 4 onto State Route 7 eastbound before abruptly turning, skidding and reversing direction to travel westbound on Route 7 onto Nowlan Road.
The pursuit continued south onto Stratmill Road in the Town of Fenton, north onto Old State Road, east onto Loughlin Road in the Town of Kirkwood, east onto Court Street, north onto Interstate Route 81 in the City of Binghamton.
Members of the sheriff’s office were able to successfully deploy spike strips on the vehicle’s tires as the suspect fled back onto Route 17 westbound in the Village of Johnson City.
The suspect then took Exit 71 onto Harry L Drive heading east and reportedly lost a tire before ultimately driving into the parking lot of 560 Harry L Drive.
While in the parking lot, the driver attempted to evade pursuing patrols, driving through multiple parking spaces, maneuvering around buildings and swerving around patrol vehicles before being surrounded near the front of the Food & Fire restaurant.
Patrols issued verbal commands, and the stolen vehicle’s operator, Romario M. Robinson, 28, of Binghamton, complied and was successfully taken into custody.
Further investigation of the vehicle found that the Vehicle Identification Number had been tampered with and swapped out in multiple locations on the vehicle.
While Robinson was being taken into custody, an employee of Food & Fire, Shelby J. Medovich, 28, of Harpursville, exited the restaurant and approached the suspect vehicle, ignoring repeated verbal commands from law enforcement and began attempting to interfere with the investigation.
Medovich was then taken into custody as well.
The investigation revealed that Medovich was Robinson’s partner and had registered the stolen vehicle in her name.
Robinson was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, a class D felony; criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a class D felony; three counts of illegal possession of vehicle identification number, class E felonies; conspiracy in the fifth degree, a class A misdemeanor; reckless endangerment in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; unlawfully fleeing a police officer in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor; obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; reckless driving, a misdemeanor; aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree, a misdemeanor; and multiple other traffic violations.
Medovich was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, a class D felony; criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a class D felony; three counts of illegal possession of vehicle identification number, class E felonies; obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; and conspiracy in the fifth degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Robinson and Medovich were processed and brought before Central Arraignment, where they were released on their own recognizance.
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police, Johnson City Police and the Endicott Police Department.
