An Albany man driving a stolen Pontiac Grand Prix allegedly led police and deputies from multiple jurisdictions on a 50-mile car chase through Albany, Greene and Schoharie counties yesterday before finally crashing in the town of Broome.
According to a press release from the State Police, police first tried to stop 44-year-old Joseph V. Wagner when they spotted him driving the Grand Prix, which had been reported stolen, through the Town of Guilderland in Albany county last night.
Wagner reportedly bolted into Greene County along Rte. 32, where the Greene County Sheriff's Department was waiting for him with spike sticks. Despite blowing two tires, Wagner allegedly didn't stop until he drove back through Albany County and into Schoharie County, where he ran off the roadway and flipped over in the town of Broome. The entire chase reportedly lasted about 45 minutes.
Wagner is being treated at Bassett Hospital for bruises from the crash and a possible drug overdose, the release states. He is facing a slew of charges, including DWI, reckless endangerment, possession of marijuana, and fleeing police officers.
Here's the press release in full:
On Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at approximately 10:45 pm, a pursuit was initiated on Western Avenue as a vehicle reported stolen, traveled westbound from the City of Albany into the Town of Guilderland. Albany and Guilderland Police Departments had attempted to stop the 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix, but the operator refused to stop and continued west on Western Ave (Route 20) and then south on Rte. 155 into the Town of New Scotland. At different times the State Police and Albany County Sheriff's Department also joined in the pursuit, as it continued now on Route 32 into the Town of Bethlehem. The vehicle continued to evade the police units, drove into Green County on Route 32, where the Green County Sheriff's Dept. successfully deployed Spike Sticks. The vehicle continued on with two damaged tires and the State Police in F Troop took up the pursuit after Albany County Sheriff's discontinued. The Pontiac Grand Prix continued to travel on Rte 32, turning west onto Rte. 23 and eventually north onto Rte. 145 and back into Albany County. The vehicle then entered Schoharie County, Town of Broome, where the driver lost control of the vehicle, ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned. The driver, identified as Joseph V. Wagner, age 44, First Street, Albany, was taken into custody, and transported to Cobleskill Hospital and transferred to Bassett Hospital for treatment of bruises, abrasions and possible drug overdose. Wagner was arrested for Criminal Possession of Stolen Property (vehicle), Driving While Intoxicated/Impaired (felony), Reckless Endangerment 1st degree, Fleeing Police Officers, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th, Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, as well as other Vehicle and Traffic charges. The pursuit was monitored by State Police Sergeant Scott Dauphinais for 45 minutes and approximately 50 miles through three counties at various speeds.
