Doing Donuts in a BMW: Southeast Teen Accused in 3 Incidents

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the recent arrest of a Southeast 18-year-old on a multitude of traffic misdemeanor charges following recent incidents.

First, at about 1 a.m. Jan. 21, while patrolling southbound on Route 22 in Southeast, Deputy Sheriff Kevin Radovich observed the driver of a white BMW performing “donuts” in the roadway. As the deputy approached, the driver of the BMW accelerated past him north on Route 22.

As the deputy activated his emergency lights and performed a u-turn, the driver increased his speed to 70 mph in a 45 mph zone, turned right onto Doansburg Road, and reached speeds estimated to be in excess of 100 mph. By the time he got near Green Chimneys School, where the speed limit is 30mph, the BMW was going 120, police allege.

Radovich discontinued pursuit and advised the New Fairfield, Connecticut Police Department to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle.

Then, on Jan. 30, the deputy was contacted by New York State police and advised that the troopers had arrested Thomas P. Maloney, 18, of 22 Ivy Hill Road, Southeast after investigating a complaint of a driver in a white BMW performing donuts on Route 22 at Doansburg Road. They charged him with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.

During the process, the troopers said, Maloney told them he “ran” from a Putnam County Deputy Sheriff the week prior to the arrest.

The troopers forwarded a photo of the white BMW to Radovich, who positively identified it as the vehicle from the previous incident. He applied to the Town of Southeast Justice Court for an arrest warrant for Maloney on misdemeanor charges of Reckless Driving, Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree.

Two weeks later, at 1:30 a.m. Feb. 15, Radovich observed a white BMW travelling northbound on Route 22 with no front license plate and bearing unauthorized colored lights.

He paced the vehicle at 90 mph in a 35 mph zone, and then the driver allegedly increased his speed to 120 mph.

The deputy stopped the BMW on Route 22 north of Ballyhack Road and identified the driver as Thomas Maloney.

There were also four teenage passengers in the car. Their identities are being withheld by police.

Radovich arrested Maloney and charged him with Reckless Driving and with four counts of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, misdemeanors, as well as several traffic violations and the misdemeanor charges that resulted from the incident on Jan. 21.

Maloney was processed at the Putnam County Correctional Facility and held pending arraignment.

If found guilty of the misdemeanor charges, he could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for each charge.