GOSHEN, N.Y. — A 21-year-old man from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was arrested Tuesday night following a dramatic, multi-jurisdictional police pursuit that began in New Jersey and ended on State Route 17 in Goshen, New York.
The suspect, identified as Henry Yovany Bartolo-Gomez, led law enforcement on a chase involving a heavily damaged U-Haul truck that had been linked to a hit-and-run incident. The Vernon Township Police Department in New Jersey initially attempted to stop the vehicle, but Bartolo-Gomez fled, crossing state lines into Pine Island, New York.
Chase Crosses State Lines
Once the vehicle entered New York, the Town of Warwick Police Department picked up the pursuit. Officers reported that the U-Haul had visible heavy damage on the passenger side and continued to weave through multiple roadways within Warwick before heading toward Goshen.
The chase came to an end shortly after 8:46 p.m. on State Route 17, just past the Exit 124 entrance ramp, where Bartolo-Gomez finally stopped the vehicle and was taken into custody without further incident.
Charges Filed in Both States
Bartolo-Gomez was processed at the Town of Warwick Police Department, where he was charged with several offenses under New York State law, including:
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Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs
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Reckless driving
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Reckless endangerment of property
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Multiple vehicle and traffic violations
In addition, New Jersey authorities have filed charges related to the original hit-and-run case, and Bartolo-Gomez has been charged in New York as a fugitive from justice.
He was arraigned and remanded to Orange County Jail, where he is being held pending extradition to New Jersey.
Multi-Agency Response
The pursuit and arrest were made possible thanks to a coordinated effort involving several law enforcement agencies. In addition to the Town of Warwick Police Department, the following agencies assisted:
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New York State Police
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Orange County Sheriff’s Office
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Town of Goshen Police Department
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Village of Goshen Police Department
Authorities have not released further details regarding the motive behind the hit-and-run or whether any injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing in both states.
This incident underscores the importance of interstate cooperation in law enforcement, particularly when suspects attempt to evade arrest by crossing jurisdictional lines.
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