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Motorists traveling through the area began calling police around 9:45 a.m. Saturday, May 4, saying a Dodge pickup truck was driving recklessly and its operator was throwing objects out the window, Virginia State Police said.
UPDATE: Video Shows SWAT Team Arresting Naked Driver After I-81 Pursuit
A state trooper was able to locate a man later identified as Marco A. Cruz-Monroy in the Dodge near the 304-mile marker, authorities said. The trooper activated his emergency lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop for reckless driving. Cruz-Monroy slowed and merged onto the shoulder but refused to stop for the trooper, police said. Instead, he accelerated and returned to the northbound travel lane, initiating a pursuit, police said.
During the course of the pursuit, Cruz-Monroy intentionally rear-ended a trooper's patrol vehicle, causing it to run off the roadway, VSP said. The pursuit continued northbound on I-81 to the Exit 315 ramp, where the Dodge intentionally rear-ended a civilian's vehicle, the impact of which caused both vehicles to run off the roadway. The Dodge crashed in the gore area bringing the pursuit to an end, police said.
Cruz-Monroy briefly got but then returned to the truck, barricading himself inside. State police attempted to communicate with Cruz-Monroy but he refused to comply with commands, VSP said. Cruz-Monroy eventually got out of his pickup and was arrested.
While Cruz-Monroy was being evaluated by EMS, he became combative and bit a state trooper before state police regained control. The state trooper suffered minor injuries and was transported to Winchester Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
Cruz-Monroy was transported to Northwest Adult Detention Center, where he was being held without bond on charges of count of assault on a law enforcement officer and one count of driving under the influence of drugs (DUI/DUID). Additional charges were pending.
A trooper suffered minor injuries during the pursuit and was transported to Winchester Medical Center, where he was treated and released. No citizens were injured during the pursuit or the traffic crash on the Exit ramp.
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