Cops: 3 Steal Motorcycles, Crash U-Haul Into House While Fleeing Police In Rockland County
SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Two were arrested and a third suspect remains at large after allegedly crashing a U-Haul truck carrying two stolen motorcycles into a home while fleeing Ramapo police in Rockland County early Monday morning.
According to police, a resident reported that three suspects stole two motorcycles from his Dolson Road property at around 3 a.m.
While investigating the scene,police spotted a U-Haul truck driving along nearby Remsen Road and pursued the vehicle.
When officers stopped the truck near Route 306, the U-Haul sped away, police said. The truck then crashed into a home after attempting to turn onto Zuba Lane from Viola Road.
Police said the driver tried making a turn, but missed it, and instead ran over a bush, then continued toward the home. Tire marks remain in the grass, and the truck slammed into the house destroying the laundry room. A natural gas line was also damaged.
Homeowner Troy Brown was at work at the time of the crash.
"My cousin called me and I heard in her voice something was wrong," Brown told CBS2's Raegan Medgie. "She said a U-Haul truck was in the side of your house. So I said I'm on my way."
The laundry room of the home was destroyed and a natural gas line was also damaged. Brown was told to get what he could and leave the house immediately.
"I'm glad no one was home because usually my grandmother's here, and she's on vacation," Brown said.
Crews are expected to put up makeshift walls to keep a portion of the mangled side wall of the house from collapsing.
"I'm just hoping everything is alright with the house and all that," Brown added.
Karl Lepine, 19, of Spring Valley, and Ely Portillo-Mendoza, of New Hempstead, were found in the back of the U-Haul alongside the two stolen motorcycles, police said.
They were arrested and changed with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and fourth-degree criminal mischief.
"I'm glad it wasn't someone's bedroom, I'm glad it wasn't a little child's room. It was kids, but no one got hurt. Hopefully these kids can change their life around and take a different path in life," Robert John said.
Now, it's time to cleanup the mess.
Crews were shoring up the corner of the home to prevent collapse, and a bigger headache for Brown.
"Why? Why my house?" he wondered.
According to police, the driver of the U-Haul escaped on foot and has not yet been arrested.
