CATSKILL — Two Greene County residents were arrested on drug charges following a car and foot chase through the town Monday, according to police.
Michael Dauphin, 31, of Elka Park, and a passenger in Dauphin’s vehicle, Sara Leppig, 42, of East Durham, were arrested and charged just before 3 p.m. Monday, after being apprehended by police following a police car and police chase involving state police and Catskill police, state police Troop F Public Information Officer Jennifer Alvarez said in a press release Tuesday.
Dauphin was charged with reckless driving, a class A misdemeanor; third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, a class A misdemeanor; second-degree reckless endangerment, a class A misdemeanor; second-degree obstructing governmental administration, a class A misdemeanor; resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor; third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, an unclassified misdemeanor; manufacture of drug related paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor; and multiple vehicle and traffic violations.
Leppig was charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, class A misdemeanor; and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, class A misdemeanor.
The arrests came after state police attempted to stop the 2018 Kia Dauphin was driving on suspected traffic violations near exit 21 of the New York State Thruway in Leeds. During the attempted stop, Dauphin quickly drove out of the Stewart’s Shops parking lot on Route 23B and drove toward Jefferson Heights, according to state police Troop F.
Police pursued Dauphin’s vehicle for several miles, according to Alvarez, and he allegedly performed several driving maneuvers to evade police.
The chase ended in the village of Catskill where Dauphin allegedly parked the car on Williams Street before fleeing on foot. Leppig remained in the vehicle. Police caught up to Dauphin and apprehended him without further incident, according to Alvarez.
Both Dauphin and Leppig were ticketed and released with an appearance ticket. Dauphin is set to appear in Catskill town court March 20 while Leppig is set to appear March 27.
