File it under “one crime at a time:” New Paltz town police assisted State Police in capturing four of the suspects who took off after their vehicle was pulled over by State Police on the Thruway for speeding last week.
According to authorities, when the white Dodge Charger was pulled over soon after midnight on May 31, three people bolted from the vehicle. Troopers soon located one, walking along the shoulder, and around 2:30 a.m., town police officers spotted two others who fit the suspect descriptions getting into another car in Ohioville. When that vehicle was pulled over on North Putt Corners Road and the driver removed, a passenger allegedly grabbed the wheel and dragged one of the New Paltz officers along North Putt Corners Road, while the other officer attempted to disable the vehicle by shooting at a tire. The officer who was being dragged was able to free himself from the car, which crashed a short distance away near Horsenden Road.
A number of charges were filed, including misdemeanor resisting arrest, felony possession of a controlled substance, felony reckless endangerment, and three counts of felony assault against one suspect. Charged were Robert Wannaker of Manhattan, as well as Dontayvus Thomas, Matthew Kin and Kayla Chevalier, all of Brooklyn.
The officer who was dragged by the vehicle suffered only minor injuries and was treated by the New Paltz Rescue Squad. The officer who fired his gun was evaluated at an area hospital and released.
The case is being handled by the New York State Police as New Paltz Police Department’s protocol any time there is an officer involved shooting.
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