Stafford Woman, Manchester Man Charged After Pursuit That Began In Tolland And Ended In Vernon: State Police

VERNON, CT — A police pursuit that began in Tolland and ended with a crash in front of a Vernon restaurant led to the arrest of a 26-year-old Manchester man wanted for sexual assault along with a 28-year-old Stafford woman, arrest reports show.

According to state police arrest reports, the scene unfolded at 8:23 p.m. Tuesday, when troopers attempted a traffic stop on a Toyota Camry at the Route 30-Old Post Road intersection in Tolland.

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State police then discovered an outstanding warrant out of East Hartford for the driver, Donovan Rice, for two counts of risk of injury to a minor and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault, according to arrest reports. Rice refused to exit the vehicle and then initiated a chase down Route 30, according to arrest reports.

In a chase that included the deployment of stop sticks, Rice ultimately crashed the Camry, now with crippled tires, roughly 4 miles away in front of Vernon Diner, according to arrest reports.

The Camry was uninsured, state police said.

In addition to that violation, Rice was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in a pursuit, failure to drive upon right, a traffic signal violation, interfering with police, attempted assault on a public safety officer and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to arrest reports.

He was held overnight on a $150,000 bond and was to appear in Rockville Superior Court Wednesday, records show.

Rice's companion in the Camry, Rebecca Lindblom, was charged with the use of drug paraphernalia and interfering with police. She posted a $10,000 bond and has a July 21 court date, records show.