An attempted traffic stop in Montezuma led to a fleeing charge after deputies said a driver sped away, ran a stop sign and later fled into woods near his home in Throop.
Austyn Barned, 27, turned himself in Sept. 29 on a warrant and was charged with third-degree unlawfully fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle and multiple traffic offenses, according to an Oct. 6 Cayuga County Sheriff's Office release.
Deputies said they tried to stop a maroon Mustang with no hood at about 6:22 p.m. Sept. 27 after seeing it speed near West Loop Road and Route 31.
When a deputy activated emergency lights and a siren, the driver accelerated south on West Loop Road and failed to stop at Route 31, putting other motorists at risk, the Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies did not pursue the car because of the danger, according to the release. They instead waited near Barned's residence for the vehicle to return.
The Mustang returned at about 7:29 p.m., but the driver went behind the house and ran into the woods after seeing police vehicles, deputies said. A brief search did not find him, and deputies sought a warrant from Montezuma Town Court.
In addition to the fleeing charge, Barned was cited for speeding on two roads, failing to stop at a stop sign and driving without insurance or a license. Other citations concerned the Mustang's inspection, muffler, registration, plates and registration sticker.
Deputies also issued tickets through Throop Town Court for offenses they said occurred near his residence. Barned was arraigned in centralized arraignment court Sept. 29 and is expected to appear in the Montezuma and Throop town courts on later dates; the release did not give those dates.
Anyone with information can contact the Sheriff's Office at 315-253-1222.
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