Halfmoon man arrested after fleeing from police on I-87 while also allegedly intoxicated

Christopher R. Mitchell, 43, of Halfmoon was arrested by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office on several charges, including a DWI, after fleeing from police on I-87 on early Saturday morning.

Deputies say they attempted to stop a vehicle around 12:20 a.m. for following too closely and driving on the shoulder of Ushers Road near I-87.

Mitchell is accused of fleeing from a marked police vehicle with its lights and siren activated at speeds in excess of 25 mph over the speed limit, said police.

Authorities say the pursuit continued onto I-87, and eventually ended when Mitchell crashed his vehicle in the vicinity of Eastline Road in the Town of Malta after he had made an unlawful U-turn on I-87, continued southbound and left the highway at Exit 12 going west.

He is accused of operating a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition, and also at a time when his driver’s license was revoked due to alcohol-related convictions, said the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say the DWI charge was elevated to a class D felony due to two prior DWI convictions within the last 10 years.

Mitchell was charged with the following:

• Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
• First-degree aggravated unlicensed operation (AUO) (class E felony)
• Third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle
• Circumventing an ignition interlock device (infraction)
• Speed not reasonable and prudent (infraction)
• Moving from lane unsafely (infraction)
• Failure to use designated lane (infraction)
• Following too closely (infraction)
• Driving to the left of pavement markings (infraction)
• Crossing divider on limited access highway (infraction)

He was released on appearance tickets from Clifton Park Town Court pending further proceedings.