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Brooklyn resident Justin Bumpers, age 28, and Dutchess County resident Jada Joseph of Poughkeepsie, age 23, were arrested on Saturday, Dec. 30 in connection with an incident that happened in Putnam County earlier on the same day, New York State Police announced on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
The events leading up to the arrests began around 12:15 a.m. when troopers patrolling the Taconic State Parkway in Putnam Valley learned of a possible stolen vehicle that was traveling north. Authorities soon spotted the vehicle, a 2010 Toyota Rav4, and tried pulling it over.
However, the car, driven by Bumpers, did not stop and instead drove away. Bumpers began passing uninvolved cars on the east shoulder of the parkway before eventually damaging the front right wheel when he struck a rock embankment, police said.
This caused Bumpers to lose control of the car and hit the pursuing state police vehicle, according to authorities.
Bumpers then got out of the vehicle and attempted to run away before he was quickly caught. The passenger, Joseph, stayed with the car and was taken into custody without any further incident, police said.
Investigating troopers later discovered that the duo had 0.7 grams of crack cocaine and 0.8 grams of cocaine, and also found that Bumpers was in possession of counterfeit US currency, authorities added.
Both Bumpers and Joseph were charged with fifth-degree and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Additionally, Bumpers was also charged with:
- First-degree possession of a forged instrument;
- Fourth-degree possession of stolen property;
- Third-degree feeling an officer in a motor vehicle;
- Reckless endangerment.
The duo was later arranged in the town of East Fishkill Court. Bumpers was then remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bond, while Joseph was released on her own recognizance. She appeared in court on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
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