More Than 500 Pounds of Pot Seized After Wild Upstate New York Police Chase

A wild police chase ended with damaged State Police vehicles and the seizure of a massive amount of cannabis in Upstate New York last week.

New York State Police say they recovered more than 500 pounds of cannabis after a pursuit that stretched through Warren and Saratoga counties. The chase included wrong-way driving on Interstate 87, alleged attempts to ram police vehicles, and ended with two suspects under arrest.

Damaged New York State Police Vehicles

Wild Police Chase in Upstate New York

According to State Police, it all started on Thursday, July 16, at approximately 3:24 p.m. when Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle traveling southbound on the Northway in Queensbury for a traffic violation.

Instead of pulling over, police say the driver sped away, leading Troopers on a chase that continued into Saratoga County. Investigators say the driver exited the highway at Exit 17 and drove recklessly through residential neighborhoods, rural roads, fields, and even private yards before getting back onto I-87.

Things only got crazier from there.

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Police say the vehicle entered the Northway by traveling the wrong way up the Exit 16 northbound off-ramp before driving southbound in the northbound lanes, where it struck a marked State Police vehicle. Investigators also allege the driver intentionally tried to ram several other patrol vehicles before encountering a State Police roadblock near Exit 15.

Suspects Threw Garbage Bags Filled With Cannabis

As the chase continued, police say the passenger began throwing garbage bags filled with vacuum-sealed cannabis out of the moving vehicle and onto the highway. Troopers later recovered the bags, along with additional cannabis found inside the vehicle. In total, State Police say they seized more than 500 pounds of cannabis.

Over 500 Pounds of Pot Seized in Upstate New York

The pursuit finally came to an end around 4:15 p.m. when the vehicle stopped in the highway median. Police say both occupants tried to run but were quickly caught while actively resisting arrest.

Suspects Identified

State Police identified the driver as 39-year-old Torrey R. Jackson of Massena. He is now facing multiple felony charges, including:

• Attempted Aggravated Assault upon a Police Officer
• Criminal Possession of Cannabis
• Two counts of Assault
• Criminal Mischief
• Tampering with Physical Evidence
• Resisting Arrest
• Reckless Endangerment
• Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle
• Numerous vehicle and traffic law violations

The passenger, 29-year-old Tori L. Rushlow of Massena, is facing similar charges, including:

• Attempted Aggravated Assault upon a Police Officer
• Criminal Possession of Cannabis
• Assault
• Criminal Mischief
• Tampering with Physical Evidence
• Resisting Arrest
• Reckless Endangerment
• Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle
• A vehicle and traffic law violation

Both suspects were arraigned in Wilton Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility without bail. State Police also said two Troopers suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident, and two patrol vehicles were damaged.