FLEEING WHILE POSSESSING DRUGS
State Police have arrested Michael Rich, 22, of St. Albans on charges that relate to him allegedly fleeing from law enforcement and possessing drugs while he did so.
According to Trooper Quealy, troopers were patrolling in the downtown St. Albans area when they attempted to stop Rich for “multiple moving violations.”
A short chase ensued before Rich finally pulled over, according to police.
According to Rich’s court, obtained by the County Courier on Monday afternoon, police watched Rich run three stop signs on High Street in St. Albans before attempting to pull him over in his Subaru.
Rich led police down Lincoln Avenue, Upper Gilman and Main Streets while police were trying to pull him over, before ultimately stopping at a parking lot near J&L Service Center.
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According to police, Rich became worried about the outcome of what might happen to his jacket. Police said that because of Rich’s concern over his jacket, police searched his jacket- finding a large bag of needles and an unlabeled pill bottle.
“It should be noted that in my experience of many high-speed pursuits, I have never had an individual request to take his jacket off before being taken into custody. This gave me concern that there may be either a weapon or illegal substance inside Micahel’s jacket.” Officer Malinowski wrote to the court.
According to police, the pill bottle contained a razor blade and several buprenorphine pills, which is an opiate used to treat opioid addictions.
Rich was initially lodged at Northwest State Correctional Center for lack of $800 bail. He was later released and appeared in court on Monday afternoon.
When Rich appeared, the court learned that there was also an arrest warrant out for Rich for failing to appear in a 2011 case. That docket was also attended to, and Rich was later released on conditions.
