A Pennsylvania man wanted for auto theft was located and arrested after leading members of the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force on a chase through the Binghamton area that left multiple cars damaged.
According to the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, task force members were alerted by multiple license plate readers in the Binghamton area on Monday around 2:30 p.m. that a white 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV was repeatedly identified as a stolen vehicle.
Investigators used the license plate reader “hits” to track down the driver, Zachary D. Swire, 32 of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania.
Swire was wanted by the Tunkhannock Township Police in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania on two active warrants for theft of a motor vehicle and related charges.
Officers conducted a traffic stop in downtown Binghamton and approached the vehicle, but Swire quickly drove away. Officers pursued Swire, who drove south over the State Street bridge to the intersection of Vestal Parkway and S. Washington Avenue, where he appeared to be boxed in by traffic.
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Swire, the sheriff’s office said, “aggressively” maneuvered the vehicle through stopped traffic, striking multiple vehicles and driving over curbs.
Officers continued to pursue Swire as he drove south on Morgan Road, Saddlemire Road and ultimately onto Hawleyton Road, where his vehicle began emitting smoke and appeared to have lost the driver’s entire front wheel.
Law enforcement officers continued to pursue Swire as he drove across the Pennsylvania border, south on Route 267 and then Route 167. As he turned west onto town Road 673, Swire’s vehicle went off the road into a wooded area and eventually stopped.
Officers said Swire tried to run away but was quickly taken into custody.
He was transferred to the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Broome County Sheriff’s Office issued arrest warrants for three felonies, including first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal mischief and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He will also be charged with second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, a misdemeanor.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Pennsylvania man arrested after pursuit through Binghamton
