NORTHAMPTON — A New York City man denied charges in court Wednesday that resulted from a high-speed police chase in two counties last week during which he allegedly drove a stolen vehicle and forced several cars off the road.
John Sanchez, 28, of Brooklyn, pleaded not guilty in Northampton District Court to charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, negligent operation and failing to stop for police.
Hatfield police said officers observed Sanchez driving a red Ford pickup truck south on Main Street at 51 mph in a 35-mph zone at 9:18 a.m. Aug. 23. Sanchez entered a field near Valley Street, according to a police report, and began doing “doughnuts.” A woman walking nearby had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit, police said.
An officer attempted to stop Sanchez’s vehicle as it sped toward Main Street, driving north in the southbound lane, police said.
The pursuit continued into Whately and South Deerfield, with Sanchez driving north, police said.
“Upon reaching Nourse Farms … and continuing to follow at a safe distance, we noticed that the operator was continuing his dangerous driving, forcing vehicles off the road and heading directly at them as they were trying to go southbound,” according to the police report.
Shortly thereafter, Hatfield, Whately and state police discontinued their chase, citing “dangerous” conditions, according to the report.
But minutes later, police said they learned that Sanchez had bailed out of the truck on West Street and was lying in a driveway. Police noted he was not injured though he appeared “disoriented.”
Sanchez was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton where family members advised authorities that he had been off his medication for at least three days, according to the report.
Police arrested Sanchez on Tuesday after he was released from the hospital.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.