TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – A 27-year-old Schenectady resident who led police on a multi-county car chase early Sunday morning was arrested on misdemeanor charges and released on an appearance ticket for a future court appearance. Messiah Anderson has been charged with unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle and reckless driving. Additional charges are pending, police said.
At approximately 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, February 11, New York State Police in Ulster County attempted to stop a vehicle for an unknown reason. Rather than comply, the operator, Messiah Anderson, sped off, with the police in pursuit. Anderson sped across the Mid-Hudson Bridge, drove through the City of Poughkeepsie, and then sped east on Route 55 toward LaGrange.
Upon entering the roundabout in LaGrange, the fleeing driver looped around and sped west on Route 55 back toward Poughkeepsie. The state police were joined in the pursuit by members of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, City of Poughkeepsie Police, and Town of Poughkeepsie police.
Once back in the city, Anderson changed direction and once again traveled east on Route 55 back toward LaGrange, with police still attempting to stop him.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that a pursuing state police vehicle was involved in a minor accident on Taft Avenue.
The vehicle pursuit came to an end when Anderson crashed into a parked car near the intersection of Collegeview and Raymond Avenues in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Anderson exited his vehicle and fled on foot. Multiple police K9 units responded to track Anderson who was eventually captured in the vicinity of the Sunoco gas station at 740 Main Street in Poughkeepsie.
