A high speed chase through two Hudson Valley counties on Friday night ended in a man facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges as well as 32 traffic violations.

On Friday night around 9:45 the Ulster County Sheriff's office were alerted to a driver that was fleeing the New York State Police from Newburgh. According to the troopers the man resisted arrest in the City of Newburgh and escaped in his car, even after being struck with a taser.

Deputies in Port Ewen spotted the vehicle traveling north on Route 9W just after 10pm. Authorities unsuccessfully attempted to stop the car as it traveled north, so they engaged in a chase. The suspect traveled from 9W to Route 32 and took Kukuk Lane to Ulster Landing Road.

Eventually the driver went through a yard, hitting some small trees. He then took off on foot down an embankment and into the woods. The suspect was eventually located by Castor, the Town of Ulster's K-9. Even after being found, the man continued to fight police and resist arrest. The Sheriff's Office says the man was then "subdued and taken into custody."

The driver was identified by police as Michael Richard Lutz from Red Hook. The 43-year-old is facing the following charges:

  • Reckless Endangerment 1st degree, a class D felony
  • Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle 3rd degree, a class A misdemeanor
  • Obstructing Governmental Administration 2nd degree (2 counts), a class A misdemeanor
  • Resisting Arrest, a class A misdemeanor
  • Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor
  • and 32 different Traffic violations

The defendant was arraigned in Town of Ulster Justice Court and sent to Ulster County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail and $100,000 bond. Lutz also faces additional charges in Orange County.

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