SCHENECTADY — A city man who police took to Ellis Hospital Monday for an evaluation Monday faces felonies after allegedly stealing a police sports utility vehicle in the parking lot and then leading police on a chase to Kingston that hit speeds of 120 mph, police said.
It was not immediately clear how the man, who police identified as Ricky Irizarry, managed to get behind the wheel of the Ford Explorer, though it is not uncommon for police officers to leave the motor running when they respond to emergency calls.
Police Chief Eric Clifford did not immediately return a call for comment Tuesday morning.
Irizarry, 43, was charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest for allegedly ignoring police commands to get out the vehicle before speeding off toward Rosa Road shortly before 6:30 p.m. Monday. Police said he quickly began racking up felonies as he made the 70 mile journey from Schenectady to the Ulster County city.
Schenectady police chased after the police vehicle until it entered the state Thruway at Exit 25 where the troopers took over the pursuit, police said. A State Police helicopter monitored the chase from above.
The pursuit finally ended in Ulster County after a county sheriff’s deputy put down spike strips on the roadway to “slow and subdue” the Explorer, according to a criminal complaint.
The court document also accuse Irizarry of driving in a “reckless manner, disregarding emergency lights and sirens, and putting the public at risk of injury.”
Once the vehicle was disable, Irizarry was placed in the custody of Schenectady police.
He also faces grand larceny, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief, all felonies as well as unlawful fleeing of a police officer, a misdemeanor and several traffic and vehicle infractions.
He was expected to be arraigned in City Court Tuesday morning or afternoon.