MIDDLETOWN – A driver who led police on a chase through the city of Middletown and the town of Wallkill on was arraigned on multiple charges Friday morning.
Alejandro Garcia, 34, of Middletown was stopped by Middletown police Thursday morning. He was the subject of a search warrant that resulted from an investigation into the sale and possession of illegal narcotics by the Middletown Police Department’s Narcotics Unit.
After initially stopping, Garcia fled the scene when officers began interviewing him, running over one officer’s feet in the process. The officer suffered minor injuries, according to police.
Garcia was taken into custody after a chase on routes 302, 17 and 211, among other roads.
On Friday, Garcia was arraigned on two felony charges including third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
The remaining charges he faces are misdemeanors, including resisting arrest, third-degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Middletown City Court Judge Steven Brockett released him on his own recognizance pending a future court appearance.
Fatal crash: No charges for pickup truck driver in collision that killed two teens
Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw objected to Garcia’s release. In a statement, Ewanciw said Garcia “risked his life, the lives of police officers from four separate police agencies and countless members of our local community.”
“The fact that Mr. Garcia was permitted to simply walk out of court this morning and proceed with no additional penalties or negative consequences is a miscarriage of justice and an insult to every police officer and civilian in the communities of Middletown and the Town of Wallkill,” he said.
The name of Garcia’s attorney was not immediately available.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: NY driver charged after leading police on Orange County chase