LEWIS CO. -- A Lewis County man is facing a slew of charges after leading police on a multi-county chase.
State police say Kriss Whitney, 44, stole a 2001 Chevrolet pick-up truck from a home in the town of Diana. The truck had a loaded handgun inside.
A short time later, a State Forest Ranger spotted Whitney and started to pursue him, crossing into St. Lawrence County. State police along with St. Lawrence County Sheriff's deputies and Gouverneur police joined in the chase.
Police say Whitney refused to pull over, traveling at a high rate of speed through the town of Edwards, where he forced an oncoming sheriff's vehicle off the road. But police say he didn't stop there. They say he continued to speed through the town of Fowler, then nearly struck a trooper who had deployed a tire deflation device.
Eventually, all four tires were deflated, Whitney allegedly slammed into the back of a state police car. Police say Whitney got out of the car and refused to put his hands behind his back. He was eventually taken into custody.
Whitney is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of stolen property, unlawful fleeing of a police officer, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment along with multiple traffic violations.
He was arraigned in the town of Fowler Court, held in contempt of court and sent to the St. Lawrence County Jail where he's being held without bail.
He is scheduled to be back in Fowler Town Court on March 29th. Additional charges are pending.
