Brooklyn man leads police on wild chase

By Anya Tikka
MATAMORAS — Things moved fast when police officers in Port Jervis stopped a car in The Acre area of the city in the early morning of March 26, after receiving complaints of someone driving recklessly through the streets.
The driver, identified as 37-year old Igor Sarkisov from Brooklyn, took during the stopa — and police officers commenced a fast-paced chase through Port Jervis' streets.
Sarkisov’s route lead eventually over the bridge to Matamoras on the Pike County side. Once he was over the bridge, the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department joined the chase.
Eastern Pike Police Chief Chas Stewart one of his police vehicles containing two officers got a call from the Port Jervis police. The Pennsylvania State Police also joined the chase to catch the driver.
According to Port Jervice Police report, Sarkisov attempted to force at least one Port Jervis Police car off of the road during the pursuit.
Stewart said Sarkisov faces several charges in Pike County, including:
Fleeing and attempting to elude police
Reckless endangerment of another person (2 counts)
Accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property
Illegally operating a motor vehicle without ignition in the lock
Six minor traffic violations
The combined police force caught up with Sarkisov on Pike County's Route 1 outside Milford, but not before his vehicle struck a guardrail.
He was transported by ambulance to Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, where he was treated and released.
Upon discharge, he was taken to the Port Jervis Police Department, then arraigned in Port Jervis City Court. He was remanded to the custody of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on no bail because he had two or more prior felony convictions.
Sarkisov is currently on parole for a previous DWI conviction. For this incident, he was charged in New York with the following offences:
Felonies:
Driving While Intoxicated, D Felony (prior felony conviction for DWI)
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, First Degree (2 counts), E Felony)
Reckless Endangerment First Degree, D Felony
Misdemeanors:
Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in the Third Degree, A Misdemeanor
Circumventing an Ignition Interlock Device, A Misdemeanor
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Second Degree
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Third Degree, Unclassified Misdemeanor
Reckless Driving, Unclassified Misdemeanor
Sarkisov was also issued 19 traffic tickets for various violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.