The Utica Police Department identified the suspect as 29-year-old Daniel Passino-Brazeau, whose address was listed as unknown. Police said he now faces several charges tied to the alleged theft, pursuit, crashes and injuries that unfolded early Wednesday morning.
The incident began around 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, when a security officer at the Alexander Pirnie Federal Building noticed a suspicious man on surveillance video. The security officer then reported a possible stolen military-style vehicle to police.
Utica Police Lt. Mike Curley said the department was grateful that the situation was noticed quickly. He said the early report gave officers a chance to respond before more time passed and before the vehicle could be driven farther through the city unnoticed.
Officers later found the vehicle and tried to stop it, but police said Passino-Brazeau refused to pull over. Instead, according to police, he drove toward officers and their vehicles at a high rate of speed, forcing officers to move quickly to avoid being struck.
Curley said officers were placed in immediate danger when the vehicle came toward them. He said the suspect did not follow police warnings and drove in a way that forced officers to dive out of the way and move their vehicles quickly.
The chase then continued through downtown Utica. Police said the military-style vehicle struck a utility pole, ripped a fire hydrant out of the ground and damaged a building on Genesee Street.
After the vehicle hit the building, officers attempted to stop Passino-Brazeau and take him into custody. During that effort, one officer was injured when the vehicle drove away and the officer was thrown from it, according to Curley.
Curley said the officer appeared to make a split-second decision to try to stop the driver from continuing to operate the vehicle. When the vehicle moved again, the officer was thrown and suffered injuries to his head and hands.
The chase did not end at that point. Police said the vehicle continued further down Genesee Street before eventually crashing into a tree. Once the vehicle was disabled, officers forced their way inside and took Passino-Brazeau into custody after a struggle.
A second officer was injured during that struggle, police said. Curley said both officers were taken to the hospital and later discharged. One officer is expected to remain out of work for a period of time pending further evaluation, while the other is expected to return to regular duty.
The damage left behind from the chase was significant. Police said the vehicle struck city infrastructure and property before the final crash. Parts of Genesee Street remained closed as crews worked to clean up debris and repair damage.
Authorities said they are still investigating how the military-style vehicle was stolen. Curley said that is one of the issues police need to examine closely, though he also noted that the business involved had no reason to believe the vehicle could be operated and taken in that manner.
Curley said no one would have reasonably expected someone to move that type of vehicle and operate it the way police say Passino-Brazeau did during the chase.
The department described the incident as unusual, even for officers who regularly handle unpredictable vehicle theft cases. Curley said police are no strangers to unusual stolen-vehicle incidents, but that this case stood apart because it involved a military surplus-style vehicle being taken and driven through city streets.
He said the officers involved acted heroically and appropriately while working to bring the chase to a quick and safe resolution.
Police also emphasized that the timing of the incident likely helped prevent more serious injuries. Because the chase happened overnight, there were fewer pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Curley said the outcome could have been much worse if the vehicle had crashed into something other than a tree.
He also noted that the area included gas stations and other locations where a crash could have created a more dangerous situation. Police said they were thankful no bystanders were seriously hurt despite the size of the vehicle, the damage caused and the danger created during the pursuit.
Passino-Brazeau was charged with third-degree grand larceny, driving while intoxicated, unlawful fleeing a police officer, two counts of second-degree assault and several traffic violations. Police said more charges could follow as the investigation continues.
The case remains under investigation as authorities review how the vehicle was taken, the full route of the chase, the damage left behind and the circumstances surrounding the injuries to the two officers.
For Utica police, the incident began with a security officer noticing something suspicious on surveillance video and ended with a rare and dangerous pursuit involving a stolen military-style vehicle. The department said the quick report, the overnight timing and the response by officers helped prevent an already dangerous situation from becoming even worse.