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On October 7th around 9am, a New York State Trooper assigned to the Traffic Incident Management Unit was watching traffic on I81 headed northbound near Hoxie Gorge in Cortlandville.
While in the area, the trooper observed a vehicle speeding and proceeded to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle initially stopped, but then sped off away from the trooper.
The operator of the vehicle drove through several roads in the City of Cortland before intentionally exiting the roadway into a field and then striking a tree near McDonald Rd. in the Town of Homer.
Three occupants in the vehicle fled on foot into a wooded area. Police were able to locate and take into custody all three suspects a little bit after 12pm. The Cortland County Sheriff found a woman in a cornfield near Pine Hill Trailer Park and then the City of Cortland Police found two males running behind the same trailer park.
However, before police took the three suspects into custody, another person in a different stolen vehicle came into the area to pick up the three individuals that fled on foot. The vehicle was spotted by a Cortland County Sheriff’s deputy who then attempted to stop the vehicle, the vehicle failed to comply.
The vehicle reportedly drove at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, driving recklessly and nearly striking police vehicles, and was eventually stopped on I81 near exit 13 in Tully and taken into custody around 11am.
The driver of the first vehicle, 20 year old Ejarias J. Burgin of Camillus, NY was charged with class D felony of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd, and Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, a misdemeanor.
The two other occupants of the first vehicle, a male and female, both 18, were not charged.
State Police charged the driver of the second vehicle, 20 year old Zaquest A. Robinson-Cummings of Syracuse, NY with class D Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd degree, a felony.
Both men were transported to Cortland County Central Arraignment and Processing.
