New York fugitive arrested after pursuit through Cheatham County

CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Cheatham and Dickson County law officers apprehended a fugitive wanted for robbery in New York and auto theft in Pennsylvania.

Officials with the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office in New York told News 2 Christopher Salonis allegedly pulled a weapon on a gas station attendant he knew.

According to the officials, Salonis reportedly told the clerk to give him the money he had on him, then he allegedly punched the worker in the face and drove off.

The police chief in Bradford, Pennsylvania, just over the county line from New York, told News 2 Salonis stole a Chevrolet Malibu from his jurisdiction.

According to the Cheatham County arrest report, Salonis was first spotted in West Kingston Springs.

Deputy Ronald Perkins used his in-car LPR system and picked up a hit on the stolen vehicle. When the deputy activated his blue lights, Salonis drove off.

According to the report, Salonis crossed into the other lane of traffic multiple times. At one point, Salonis stopped and made a U-turn, driving toward Perkins.

Later on when the chase crossed into Dickson County, Salonis reportedly drove toward a White Bluff police officer. Cheatham County deputies and law officers from Dickson successfully spike Salonis’ tires, and it wasn’t long before the tires begin to shred and the Malibu lost traction.

At the end of the chase, Salonis lost control and his vehicle slid off the road into an embankment, rolling once and coming to rest in a field.

Deputies and law officers charged toward Salonis who tried to run away.

Salonis was tackled, but didn’t give up easily; deputies reportedly had to use a stun gun to overpower him.

On body camera footage, officers said they saw Salonis light up what they thought was a cigarette moments before the crash, but after talking to the fugitive, the deputies were more convinced that Salonis smoked drugs prior to the crash.

Once Salonis was in the back of the police car, the deputy reminded him how much danger he put everyone in.

Salonis is charged locally with reckless driving, reckless endangerment, theft of a motor vehicle, driving on a revoked license, and being a fugitive from justice.

New York also has a hold on Salonis for the felony charges in that jurisdiction.

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