An Old Saybrook woman was arrested after ramming into two state police cruisers at a gas station in Norwich.
Around 3 p.m. on March 13, State Police said they observed a black Subaru Legacy traveling on Route 2 in Bozrah. State Police said they saw that the vehicle did not have a front license plate and was failing to maintain its lane.
According to State Police, an inquiry of the vehicle revealed the registered owner to be Electra Chiulli, 33, of Old Saybrook. While following the vehicle, State Police were able to identify the driver of the vehicle as its registered owner, Chiulli.
State Police said the black Subaru Legacy was also the subject of a previous “Be on the Lookout,” dispatched by the State Police Troop F Barracks approximately one week prior for engaging Old Saybrook Police in a pursuit. State Police Troop E Dispatchers confirmed Chiulli had an active arrest warrant for her arrest stemming from this previous incident.
What happened at the gas station in Norwich
State Police said they followed the vehicle until it stopped at a gas station on Route 97 in Norwich. Based on the known history of Chiulli engaging police in pursuit, State Police attempted a box-in technique to prevent her from leaving the scene.
State Police said they began speaking with Chiulli, who refused to exit the vehicle. Based on the driver having a valid arrest warrant, a rear window was breached in an attempt to escort her out of the vehicle.
At that point, State Police said Chiulli shifted the vehicle into reverse before accelerating forward into a State Police cruiser, colliding with the driver’s side.
Chiulli then accelerated backward and collided with one of the gas station’s fuel pumps. She accelerated forward again, ramming a second State Police cruiser, forcing her way past the vehicles and exiting the gas station parking lot.
The pursuit
Chiulli drove away from the gas station at a high rate of speed. She drove onto I-395 North, failing to stop for the troopers’ lights and sirens and leaving the highway at exit 19.
State Police said Chiulli then continued on Route 169 and struck a guardrail while attempting to turn left onto Strnad Road in Lisbon. Chiulli then fled on foot from the scene of the accident.
Witnesses nearby stated they saw Chiulli flee on foot behind a residence on Strnad Road. With assistance from a Montville Police K9 team, Chiulli was located under a deck of a residence on Strnad Road. No one was injured as a result of this incident.
Chiulli’s charges
State Police arrested Chiulli without further incident. In the immediate vicinity of where Chiulli was located, State Police said numerous bundles of suspected narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia were also found.
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Chiulli was transported to a local hospital for treatment and remains in State Police custody. She was charged with improper number of marker plates, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, evading responsibility of a collision, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, criminal attempt at assault on a public safety officer (felony), reckless endangerment in the first degree, three counts of criminal mischief in the first degree (felony) and two counts of interfering with an officer.
Chiulli was issued a $500,000 cash-surety bond. Her next scheduled court hearing is April 15 at Norwich Superior Court.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Woman arrested after ramming into two police cruisers in Norwich CT
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