COLCHESTER –– A Richmond man was arrested early this morning following a high-speed pursuit and crash in a stolen vehicle that ended with the car in flames, according to the Colchester Police Department.
At approximately 12:50 a.m., Officer Lucas McClanahan discovered a red 2013 Subaru idling at the intersection of Windemere Way and Colchester Point Road.
The vehicle fled the scene as Sgt. Jeremy Wyskiel arrived for backup, prompting a pursuit that saw speeds reaching up to 75 mph.
The chase continued along Colchester Point Road, Lakeshore Drive, Blakely Road, and Severance Road.
Despite losing a tire, the stolen vehicle continued to flee on its rim until it hit a curb on Susie Wilson Road in Essex.
The car came to a stop on an embankment, its engine revving at high RPMs before catching fire.
Despite commands from police to exit the burning vehicle, the driver resisted until Officer Emily Fitzpatrick deployed her Taser.
Officers from both Colchester and Essex then physically removed the driver from the flaming car.
The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Adam Tatro, was taken into custody and lodged at the Northwest State Correctional Facility.
Tatro faces charges of aggravated operation of a vehicle without the owner’s consent, violation of pre-trial conditions of release, eluding a police officer, and gross negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
He is held on $1,000 bail, with additional charges under investigation.
The vehicle, reported stolen from Burlington on Sept. 17, is now a total loss, according to authorities.
