Police: Package thief caught red-handed

Terrance Harding was arrested after an officer allegedly spotted him carrying the parcel down Pearl Street.

MIDDLETOWN >> A city man who led officers on a highspeed chase in September then nearly hit cars headon while driving into oncoming traffic to elude capture was arrested this week, police said.

On Sept. 18, an officer allegedly saw Russell Culver, 38, of Brooks Road, driving a Mazda 626, speeding through the Subway sandwich shop parking lot on South Main Street as he was about to turn left into the plaza.

Police attempt ed to pull him over, but Culver kept driving at 65 mph down South Main, crossing the double yellow line and traveling through a red light at Warwick Street, according to a report.

The report alleges Culver turned onto the Route 9 connector ramp in the wrong direction and into the path of oncoming vehicles exiting the highway.

The officer witnessed Culver continue to drive north in the southbound lane and nearly hit three vehicles “which were making emergency maneuvers to avoid high-speed, head-on collisions,” the report says.

Police were immediately sent to the area to close down Route 9 at Exits 15 and 16. The Mazda continued speeding toward Exit 14 and quickly turned onto the off-ramp for deKoven Drive, nearly hitting a car driving in the opposite direction, which is when police lost site of him, authorities allege.

Police examined video surveillance from the nearby Gulf Gas station on South Main and got a physical description of Culver and his license plate. Video footage showed him entering the convenience store, buying a pack of cigarettes, then speeding off with a cruiser in pursuit, police said.

On Jan. 17, police arrested Culver at his High Street home. He was charged with engaging police in pursuit, operating an unregistered vehicle and with a suspended license, reckless driving, unsafe passing, driving the wrong way and failure to obey a traffic signal. He was released on a promise to appear in court Feb. 2.

Culver has been convicted on third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-degree larceny, violation of probation, interfering and driving under the influence, police say.