Two Troopers Injured and 500 pounds of Weed Seized in Multicounty Chase
500 pounds of cannabis was recovered after a car chase which started in Queensbury and ended in Saratoga County ( Courtesy of NYSP)
A State Police Charger and Tahoe were damaged during a car chase (Courtesy of NYSP)
Two Massena residents have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after leading New York State Police on a two-county car chase that ended in Saratoga County.
The driver, identified as Torrey Jackson, 39, of Massena was arrested and charged with felony attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, felony 1st degree criminal possession of cannabis, two counts of felony 2nd degree assault, 2nd degree felony criminal mischief, felony tampering with physical evidence, and several misdemeanors.
The passenger, identified as Tori Rushlow, 29, of Massena, was arrested on charges of felony attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, felony 1st degree criminal possession of cannabis, felony 2nd degree assault, 2nd degree felony criminal mischief, felony tampering with physical evidence, and several misdemeanors.
According to State Police, the chase began on Interstate 87 south in Queensbury at 3:24 p.m. on July 16 when Jackson allegedly failed to stop when Troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over. The chase entered Saratoga County and left the interstate at exit 17 — continuing through rural and residential roads, fields and people’s yards.
The chase reentered I-87 at the exit 16 off ramp with Jackson allegedly traveling south in the northbound lanes of traffic. While entering the interstate, Jackson is alleged to have struck a State Police vehicle traveling north. Upon reaching a roadblock set up at exit 15, the vehicle turned around and proceeded north utilizing both the northbound and southbound lanes of traffic.
During this part of the chase, Jackson is alleged to have attempted to ram multiple State Police cars while Rushlow allegedly threw several garbage bags containing vacuum sealed bags of cannabis out the window of the vehicle, according to New York State Police.
Eventually the vehicle came to a stop in the median, with both Rushlow and Jackson allegedly attempting to flee on foot. Despite their attempts to flee and active resistance, Jackson and Rushlow were taken into custody, arraigned in Wilton Town Court and remanded into the Saratoga County Correctional facility.
Two State Troopers sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and two vehicles were damaged. All told, over 500 pounds of cannabis was recovered from the scene.