New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Cheshire man charged after drawn-out police chase
WATERBURY — A Cheshire man was charged after he took police on a drawn-out car chase Sept. 6 in the Waterbury area when law enforcement tried to pull him over in the wake of an accident he was fleeing from, according to a release from state police.
Christopher Robinson, 32, of Cheshire was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, engaging police in pursuit, disobeying a signal of an officer and reckless driving, according to state police.
He was also charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, evading responsibility in operation of motor vehicles and failure to drive in proper lane, state police said.
According to the release, a white Hyundai Elantra that fled the scene of a two-car collision on Interstate 84 westbound near exit 19 in Waterbury was spotted heading east. A trooper tried to stop the car, which pulled into the shoulder but continued driving slowly.
The Hyundai started to accelerate when the officer pulled up next to the car to see the driver. The officer pulled out his weapon when it looked as if the Hyundai might drive into the officer’s car, and the driver stopped, according to the release.
The driver told the officer he could not exit the vehicle because of damage tied to the crash, nearly dragging the officer with the car when it suddenly sped off, according to the release. The driver was further pursued by police before the vehicle became inoperable when the driver eventually hit trees in the front yard of a home on Bowman Drive in Naugatuck.
The driver got out of the car and fled on foot before he was arrested.
Robinson’s arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 24 in state Superior Court in Waterbury. He was released on a $100,000 cash bond for the pursuit. His bond tied to the collision was $2,000, and he is due in court Sept. 26 in Waterbury for arraignment on those charges.