Middletown man arrested after multi-jurisdictional Route 17 pursuit

Troop F troopers attempted to stop a vehicle on State Route 17 near Exit 122 in the Town of Wallkill on Jan. 8 after investigators linked the car to an unrelated incident in Yorktown Heights on Jan. 6. The operator fled, touching off a pursuit that crossed the Town of Wallkill, the City of Middletown and the Village of Bloomingburg before troopers terminated the chase and issued a BOLO. The vehicle was later located in the Town of Wawarsing.

Authorities identified the driver as Chandler J. Riggin, 26, of Middletown. Officers say Riggin crashed into a snowbank during a later attempt to re‑initiate the traffic stop, intentionally struck a marked State Police vehicle while trying to flee, then ran on foot before being taken into custody. Riggin faces multiple felony and misdemeanor counts, including two counts of Reckless Endangerment (Class D felonies), Criminal Mischief in the second degree (Class D felony), Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs (a Class E felony with a prior), and additional charges. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance by the court.

A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Melissa Licausi, 42, of Beacon, was charged with misdemeanor drug possession and related paraphernalia offenses. State Police credited multiple local agencies for assistance and said the investigation remains ongoing.

For residents along Route 17 and municipal leaders across Orange County, the incident raises several practical and policy concerns. The multi-jurisdictional path of the pursuit underscores how quickly a traffic stop can cross municipal lines, requiring coordination among state troopers and local police departments. The decision to terminate the initial pursuit and later re‑initiate a stop reflects established safety tradeoffs in pursuit policy: balancing the risk to the public of a high-speed chase against the need to apprehend a potentially dangerous suspect.

Community safety questions also intersect with court-level decisions. Riggin’s arraignment and release on his own recognizance will likely prompt neighborhood concern about pretrial practices and public risk assessments, especially when charges include violent or felony-level offenses and an alleged impaired driving prior. These are matters local elected officials, prosecutors and court administrators confront regularly when weighing public safety, defendants’ rights and jail capacity.

Town boards and village trustees in areas affected by the chase should expect resident questions about traffic enforcement, interagency notification and pursuit protocols. For drivers on Route 17, the event is a reminder of seasonal hazards: snowbanks and road conditions can complicate both routine stops and emergency responses.

Our two cents? Watch upcoming municipal meeting agendas and ask law enforcement leaders for clear explanations of pursuit and coordination policies. Staying informed and asking specific questions at public meetings is the clearest way for neighbors to shape how safety and civil liberties are balanced in Orange County.