Teen arrested after stealing van, striking two police cars

KINDERHOOK – A Stuyvesant youth, who is a resident of the Berkshire Farm Center in the Town of Canaan, was arrested after he want missing, stole a van and struck two police cars.
Daniel Repko, 16, was charged with felony grand larceny and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail or $25,000 bond.
Repko was reported missing on May 22, but was spotted two days later riding a bicycle in Kinderhook. When he saw the police car, he dropped the bike and fled into a wooded area. A K-9 unit tracked him down.
An investigation revealed Repko had stolen a van that was parked at a Sunnyside Road residence before fleeing from police. Several hours later, troopers located him driving the stolen vehicle in the Town of Kinderhook. He tried to evade police on Route 9 leading them on a nine-mile chase into Rensselaer County. That ended when Repko was taken into custody after he struck two police vehicles with the stolen van, causing minor damage to all three vehicles.
Police said additional charges may be pending.

Hank Gross

Hank Gross is the founder of Mid-Hudson News and a veteran journalist with over five decades of experience covering the Hudson Valley. A graduate of SUNY Oneonta, where he began his career in broadcasting, Hank has worked across radio, TV, and print media since 1970. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including an Associated Press “Best Newscast” award and recognition as a “Pillar of the Community” by the Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center. He lives in Middletown with his wife, Virginia.