GOWANDA, N.Y. — A man from Chautauqua County was arrested on Thursday after allegedly stealing a New York State Police patrol vehicle in the Village of Gowanda.
According to police, Bryan D. Ells, 41, of Irving was stopped by a trooper for a traffic violation just after 4:15 p.m. Friday. Officers said Ells appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and provided a false name during the encounter.
State Police also said there was a warrant from Chautauqua County for Ells.
He was handcuffed and placed in the back of the State Police patrol vehicle while officers searched the van he had been driving. However, Ells managed to reach the front of the patrol vehicle and drove away from the scene.
Troopers and deputies from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office immediately began pursuing him.
The stolen patrol vehicle was first located at a residence on Gowanda Zoar Road in the Town of Collins. As officers approached the car, Ells drove at high speed toward an Erie County Sheriff’s vehicle, nearly colliding with it.
The chase then continued onto Eaton Road in Versailles, where Ells was eventually found hiding in a nearby residence.
As a result of this incident, he now faces nine charges, including grand larceny, escape, reckless endangerment, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, petit larceny, obstructing governmental administration, reckless endangerment of property, false personation, and DWAI-drugs.
Ells was arraigned in the Town of Collins court and was ordered to be held at the Erie County Holding Center.