DeWitt, NY -- A Cortland man is facing multiple charges in an early morning burglary at ShoppingTown Mall in DeWitt, and the subsequent police chase that damaged two cruisers, deputies said today. The proceeds of the burglary were about dozen electric razors from the Sears store at the mall, Sgt. John D’Eredita said. D’Eredita gave these details: A deputy on...
DeWitt, NY -- A Cortland man is facing multiple charges in an early morning burglary at ShoppingTown Mall in DeWitt, and the subsequent police chase that damaged two cruisers, deputies said today.
The proceeds of the burglary were about dozen electric razors from the Sears store at the mall, Sgt. John D’Eredita said.
D’Eredita gave these details:
A deputy on patrol saw a man run from the Sears about 12:30 a.m. and into a Pontiac Grand Am in the parking lot. The deputy activated his lights in an attempt to pull the man over, but the man refuses to comply and began to speed out of the parking lot.
The man led the deputy westward onto Widewaters Parkway and eventually west on Erie Boulevard East. The sheriff’s office car was joined in the pursuit by a DeWitt Police Department cruiser and both follow the Grand Am into Hechinger’s Plaza.
The car leads the two through the parking lot, sideswiping the DeWitt car, and leads the deputy through the Taco Bell drive-thru. Shortly after that, the driver left the Grand Am, but in doing so, put the vehicle in reverse. The Grand Am then took off backward into the deputy’s car.
As the suspect was running from the car, he was looking over his shoulder at the Grand Am and the cruiser. That’s when he ran into the side of the DeWitt cruiser. The DeWitt officer exited the car, ran down the suspect, who fought. The fight didn’t end until the deputy used his Taser on the suspect.
Deputies charged Stephen Brazo, 29, of 201 Village Drive, Cortland, burglary and criminal mischief, both felonies, and grand larceny, unlawful fleeing a police officer, resisting arrest and driving while intoxicated, all misdemeanors.
In addition, Brazo was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, and a number of vehicle and traffic violations.
The razors were recovered, D’Eredita said.