SYRACUSE -- Syracuse Police spent Thursday night canvassing south side neighborhoods looking for clues to solve a string of crimes.
The busy night started at the Wilson Farms on Valley Drive and South Avenue. Thursday afternoon, police spotted a car they thought to be linked to numerous other reported crimes including a larceny at a liquor store, reportedly threatening a woman with a gun and an alleged hit and run, but police have not found a victim. The car description and license plate matched witness descriptions in all three instances.
When officers approached the car in the Wilson Farms parking lot, police say the driver backed up trying to hit them. That's when one officer fired his weapon and hit the vehicle. No one was injured. The car quickly fled leading police on a chase through the southside. The chase ended at South Salina and Ostrander streets where the driver lost control and crashed his car into a utility pole.
Two suspects were taken into custody at the scene, and another fled on foot. The third suspect was later found hiding in a nearby home. Thursday night, all three men were being questioned by police.
Sergeant Tom Connellan says having a large area with multiple crime scenes was a challenge.
"Its a logistical challenge," said Connellan. "Because we have to get our crime scene unit from one scene to another. We had evidence to collect here and we also had to process the scene at Wilson Farms. It's a drain on our manpower because we have a lot of areas we need to close off."
The suspects car smashed into a utility pole knocking out power for 1,400 residents on the southside for hours. Electricity was restored about 7:00 PM.
"I was charging up my phone and I thought I did something wrong all the lights went out I came outside saw the helicopters above, walked out here and pretty much saw what was going on," said Harry Morrison who lives nearby.
With a helicopter up above helping police search, officers on the ground processed the scene and crisscrossed neighborhoods looking for evidence.
"I was coming down Salina Street and two fire trucks passed me, so I pull over. Start to pull back out and here comes police cars, I think 4 or 5 passed me so I pull out again, here come some more police cars. Then I saw the helicopter flying overhead," said Thomas Seals who lives in the neighborhood.
Witnesses at the Wilson Farms were reporting what they saw tonight on our CNY Central Facebook page. Bill Dalton said, "Great job by the fine officer who was there!"
Police are asking for your help. If you have any information on the chain of events Thursday night you should call Syracuse Police at 442 - 5222. Police are also looking for a handgun that may have been dropped by one of the suspects along the way. All tips will remain confidential.
