Jury convicts Maryland man on felony eluding charge

A jury of nine women and three men took only 15 minutes to convict a Maryland man for eluding authorities last November.

Jose Angel Santiago, 32, of the 900 block of Ashbridge Drive, Essex, Md., received a guilty verdict on one count of felony eluding police during New Kent Circuit Court proceedings Monday morning.

Last Nov. 27, New Kent Deputy Christopher Bristow responded to a call about an erratic driver in the Tallysville area of the county. Bristow located the suspect vehicle on New Arbor Drive in one of Tallysville’s subdivisions. The deputy observed the car come to a stop in the middle of an intersection and the driver activate its emergency flashers.

As Bristow’s patrol car approached closer, the driver made a u-turn in the middle of the roadway, still having the emergency flashers on. Bristow activated his police cruiser’s warning lights and audio horn in an attempt to stop the car, but the vehicle accelerated from the scene.

In the deputy’s testimony, the vehicle drove north on Route 106 (Emmaus Church Road) to Route 249 East (New Kent Highway). Bristow said he was about 10 car lengths behind the vehicle and approaching speeds of 104 miles per hour.

The chase continued eastbound for two-and-a-half miles over hills and winding road. Bristow elected to back off the suspect when approaching a deep curve. The suspect, however, elected not to go that route, crashing into woodland areas on the right side of the road.

Virginia State Trooper Stephanie McFall testified about speaking with Santiago at a hospital. The defendant indicated a soda bottle fell out of the console to the floor causing him to wreck, and he didn’t know he was going that fast. McFall said.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory’s closing argument mirrored his opening statement when addressing jurors.

“This is a simple open and shut case. The defendant saw the lights of the officer and when the officer attempted to stop him, he took off,” said Gregory. “He eluded the officer, he did it intentionally, and as he did, he put people, including himself, in danger.

“Those are the three points that are needed to convict this man of felony eluding,” Gregory concluded.

Santiago waived his right to testify, electing to remain silent. The defendant didn’t have to wait long for jurors to return a guilty verdict on the felony charge. Thirty minutes later, they returned a recommendation of one year in prison.

Judge Thomas B. Hoover agreed with the recommendation of the jury.

“They nailed it right on the head,” said the judge. “The sentencing guidelines called for one year and that’s what the jury found.”