2 Westchester Car Chases In 2 Days End With Suspects Soon In Custody

WESTCHESTER, NY — It never pays to run from police, but in Westchester County, it seems the decision to speed away barely delays the inevitable.

The first incident occurred Tuesday morning about 9 a.m., when a patrol officer spotted a black Mercedes driving at high speed and changing lanes unsafely on the northbound Bronx River Parkway near the Cross County Parkway interchange — near the very spot where reckless driving led to a rear-end collision and rollover crash that critically injured two men in a pickup truck just last week.

Police attempted to stop the Mercedes, but the driver sped away instead, according to officials. The driver raced onto the Sprain Brook Parkway, exited onto Central Park Avenue and then attempted a U-turn across the center median, resulting in a flat tire, which he continued to drive on until he eventually stopped on Winchester Avenue.

Giovanni Scarlett, 24, of the Bronx was charged with fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, reckless driving and aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd degree. He also received a number of traffic tickets.

"Two more drivers in the last two days thought they could outrun the WCPD, officials said in a statement released on social media. "You know how these end – Flee From Us, End Up in Cuffs, Great work by our officers in the field with assistance from personnel in the Communications Unit."

The second incident happened shortly before 3:30 a.m. Wednesday after Real Time Crime broadcast an alert about a stolen Honda Civic with Florida plates. A patrol officer soon spotted the Honda on the Sprain and attempted to make a stop, but once again, the car wouldn't pull over.

The New York State Police took over the pursuit down the Sprain and then the vehicle went onto the Cross County Parkway westbound. The stolen Civic exited at Broad Street and fled on local streets.

WCPD officers canvassed the area as the communications team tracked and reported the stolen car’s last-known locations. When an officer spotted the Civic pulling into a parking lot on Monroe Street, the driver and passenger bailed out and tried to flee on foot.

The driver and an underage passenger didn’t get too far before being taken into custody.

Tyrone Findlay of Mount Vernon, was charged with felony reckless endangerment and felony criminal possession of stolen property. The 19-year-old also faces misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle and endangering the welfare of a child.

The juvenile was released to her dad pending a future appearance in Westchester County Family Court.