Man Fleeing In U-Haul Leads Cops On Wild, Multi-County Chase: NYSP

CARMEL, NY — A wild chase across the Hudson Valley ended with a New Jersey man facing a laundry list of charges.

On Wednesday, the New York State Police were called to assist the Carmel Police Department on Interstate 84, at approximately 10:35 a.m., with a man fleeing arrest for a domestic violence incident, police said.

The suspect, identified by Carmel police as 47-year-old Noel J. Mendez Jr., of Fairview, NJ, was driving a rented 2024 Chevrolet Express van. He had already struck several marked Carmel units intentionally while attempting to get away, according to Carmel police.

Troopers caught up with the pursuit on Interstate 84 and followed the van onto the Taconic State Parkway southbound. Mendez struck several vehicles before exiting the parkway into the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. At this point, he drove off-road in the park despite pedestrians around, troopers said.

He eventually returned to the Taconic State Parkway traveling northbound. From the Taconic State Parkway, he exited onto Route 6, then Strawberry Lane and finally Oscawana Lake Road.

On Oscawana Lake Road, state police cruisers made contact with the van, ending the pursuit for good. Mendez was then taken into custody.

Mendez was arrested for unlawfully fleeing from a police officer in a motor vehicle, criminal mischief and reckless driving.

He was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the town of Putnam Valley Court on Jan. 21, and released to the custody of the Carmel Police Department.