Multi-jurisdictional Vehicle Pursuit Ends With Arrests in Orange County

New York State Police Troop F officers observed a 2009 Chevrolet in the Town of Wallkill on Jan. 9, 2026, and the vehicle fled when troopers attempted to stop it, sparking a short vehicle pursuit that traveled through the Town of Wallkill, the City of Middletown and the Village of Bloomingburg. Troopers later terminated the active pursuit for public safety reasons and tracked the vehicle to the Town of Wawarsing, where it was recovered.

The operator, identified in the State Police release, was charged with Reckless Driving, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 1st Degree and multiple traffic violations. A passenger, Melissa Licausi, 42, of Beacon, was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree and Manufacture of Drug-Related Paraphernalia, both Class A misdemeanors. State Police said the case remains under investigation.

Local law enforcement agencies assisted in the response, including Wallkill Police Department, City of Middletown Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Their involvement underscores the routine coordination required when incidents cross municipal lines in Orange County, where commuter routes and local roads frequently connect small towns and population centers.

For residents, the incident highlights two immediate concerns: the short-term disruption that pursuits and follow-up operations can cause to traffic and everyday routines, and the broader public-safety challenge of balancing law enforcement action with minimizing risk to bystanders. Drivers who travel the affected corridors between Wallkill, Middletown, Bloomingburg and Wawarsing may have encountered temporary closures or increased patrol activity during the response and investigation.

The charges filed illustrate a range of criminal and traffic consequences. Reckless Driving is an unclassified misdemeanor, while Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 1st Degree is charged as a Class E felony under New York law. The passenger’s charges are Class A misdemeanors related to controlled substances and paraphernalia. Prosecutors will review evidence as State Police continue their investigation.

Orange County residents should expect ongoing cooperative policing efforts in cases that cross town and village borders, and may see increased visibility of state and local officers during follow-up work. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the investigating agencies as the case proceeds through the legal process.