Police attempted to pull Davila over for an expired inspection sticker, but he decided to speed off.
Hector Davila
SPRINGFIELD - A 17-year-old Holyoke teen was arrested Thursday night on multiple motor vehicle charges, including leaving the scene of an accident and driving to endanger, as well as breaking and entering after he kicked in the door to a Collton Street residence in an attempt to get away from police.
The pursuit originated on State Street when police sought to pull over his car for having an expired inspection sticker, said Sgt. John M. Delaney, aide to Police Commissioner William Fitchet.
Hector Davila of 1 Beacon Ave., Holyoke, was charged with driving a vehicle with an expired inspection sticker and an improper display of a front license plate, refusing to submit to police, driving to endanger, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, and breaking and entering.
All of the charges except for the sticker and revoked-license violations resulted from the chase.
He spent the night in police lockup, and at his arraignment Friday in Springfield District Court, he denied the charges. He was ordered held on $2,500 bail and is due back in court on June 8.
Delaney said Sgt. David Kane and officer Robert Kalin were patrolling along State Street as part of a new deployment that focuses on zero tolerance for motor vehicle violations in high crime areas.
The deployment, called Data-Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety or DDACTS, started this month on a trial basis, funded by a federal grant. Officers are deployed in high-crime areas to concentrate on enforcing traffic laws. Studies have shown that high-crime and high-traffic areas often overlap, and enforcing the rules of the road can impact crime.
They spotted Davila in a black Honda pulling out of the parking lot for Burger King on State Street and noticed the expired sticker, Delaney said. They tried to pull him over, but Davila sped off. Delaney said.
They chased him to Beacon and Colton streets when he crashed the car and then fled on foot, Delaney said. Officers chased him through some back yards and then watched him kick open the front door of 147 Colton St. and run inside. They found him hiding on the second floor, he said.
View Springfield police pursuit, 5/13/2011 in a larger map