LANSING N.Y. – A woman led police on an 85 mph chase through Tompkins County Friday, ramming police vehicles and avoiding tire deflation devices along the way, officials said in a news release.
Judith M. Heffron, 40, of Auburn, is facing 19 charges in relation to the chase.
Police released the following narrative about the incident:
Around 4:50 a.m. Friday in the village of Lansing, deputies noticed a red 2009 Kia Optima traveling northbound on State Route 13 near Triphammer Road.
Police tried pulling Heffron over, but she continued traveling northbound on State Route 13 into the town of Dryden at speeds more than 85 mph.
New York State Police began assisting deputies to stop the vehicle and set up a tire deflation device near the 1800 block of State Route 13. Heffron, however, was able to avoid the device.
The vehicle continued northbound into the village of Dryden, and then went eastbound onto State Route 392.
The vehicle eventually turned onto McClintock Road and came to a stop near a grassy area.
Deputies approached the vehicle on foot to take the driver into custody, but she quickly backed up and rammed into a state police vehicle, swerving toward a deputy who had to jump out of the way to avoid being struck.
Heffron then continued on McClintock Road, turned onto South Street, and then turned onto North Street, disregarding two stop signs while driving and amping her speed up to more than 85 mph in the 30 mph speed zone.
She again sped past a stop sign and turned left onto Fall Creek Road, now traveling southwest. While driving, police say she made several abrupt stops in an effort collide with police vehicles pursuing her.
Deputies again tried to stop Heffron with stop sticks near the intersection of Fall Creek Road and West Malloryville Road, but she was once again able to void the devices.
Near the intersection of Fall Creek Road and Cook Street, another effort to use stop sticks successfully made contact with the driver’s front tire. She continued driving, though, onto State Route 366/ Main Street as her tire began to slowly deflate.
She was forced to stop near the Fall Creek Bridge on State Route 366 as the tire began wearing off the rim.
Deputies troopers were then able to take Heffron into custody.
She is charged with:
Second-degree reckless endangerment
Third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor Vehicle
Reckless driving
Speeding in zone (3 counts)
Speeding over 55 mph
Moving from lane unsafely (4 counts)
Unsafe turn (2 counts)
Unsafe backing
Stopping on Public Highway
Failure to stop at stop sign (4 counts)
Heffron was arraigned in the Town of Caroline Court and originally remanded to the Tompkins County jail in lieu of posting $3,000 cash bail or $6,000 bond and $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond on the Dryden Court charges. A jail official said Wednesday afternoon that she is no longer in custody.
Police said the investigation is still on going and further charges are pending.
