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High speed chase, police cruisers damaged; shots fired in Adams County

A traffic stop leads to a high speed chase and shots fired by a Pennsylvania State Trooper in Adams County. The incident began at around 11:16 am when a State P...
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High speed chase, police cruisers damaged; shots fired in Adams County

A traffic stop leads to a high speed chase and shots fired by a Pennsylvania State Trooper in Adams County. The incident began at around 11:16 am when a State Police trooper from the Gettysburg Barracks stopped a northbound white Ford Expedition with New York registration at mile marker 9 along on Route 15 in Straban Township.

High speed chase, police cruisers damaged; shots fired in Adams County

While speaking with the driver, Michael Angel Velez, 27, the trooper noticed what appeared to be drug paraphernalia in the SUV.  When the trooper returned to his cruiser and called for back up, Velez fled the scene at high speed headed northbound.  A pursuit began with eventually included four state police cruisers, two marked and two unmarked. Speeds during the pursuit fluctuated between 65 mph and 110 mph.

Approximately 2 to 3 miles north of the Route 394 exit, Velez drove through the grassy median onto the southbound lanes on Route 15.

During one attempt to box in the SUV, Velez allegedly intentionally rammed one of the patrol cars. Eventually another patrol car conducted a PIT maneuver which caused the SUV to spin out through the median back into the northbound lanes. The police then attempted to box in him again at mile marker 15.1 on Route 15. Velez again rammed a marked patrol car disabling it. The SUV was also disabled, but Velez still attempted to ram the cruiser, at which time a Trooper fired multiple shots at the SUV.

Velez was eventually taken into custody.  Velez was not injured. Neither were any of the State Troopers.

It was determined that Velez had an active warrant for parole/probation violation out of New York.  He was taken to a local hospital for treatment after he complained of feeling sick from swallowing dope.

Charges against Velez include Aggravated Assault, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police Officer, Simple Assault and Recklessly Endangering Another Person

 

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