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Man Who Fought With Police After 100 MPH I-84 Chase Sentenced

A man convicted of leading police on a wild, high-speed police chase through multiple states before attempting to wrestle himself free of custody last year has been sentenced to time in state prison.

Daniel O'Brien.

Daniel O'Brien.

Photo Credit: New York State Police

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on April 14 last year, 37-year-old Daniel O’Brien of Cochecton was driving in Connecticut when local law enforcement attempted to pull him over for a traffic infraction. According to police, instead of stopping for the officers, O’Brien sped off, kicking off a high-speed chase that made its way into New York, during which speeds exceeded 100 mph on I-84.

While Connecticut police concluded their pursuit of O’Brien at the state border, state police in New York were notified and picked up the chase, who again reportedly failed to stop for troopers.

Police said that O’Brien proceeded onto local roads in Putnam County, “recklessly and at excessive speeds,” forcing at least one motorist off the road and narrowly avoiding several other vehicles while still being pursued by police.

According to police, O’Brien only stopped driving when he came to a stop after hitting a concrete curb on Route 6 in Carmel, and was quickly surrounded by law enforcement authorities from several nearby jurisdictions. Instead of submitting to police, O’Brien reportedly charged at a deputy from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and wrestled with him until O’Brien was subdued and arrested.

O’Brien would reach a plea agreement with authorities to plead guilty to one count of reckless endangerment, a felony. He pleaded guilty to that charge in March and was sentenced to between one and three years in prison this week.


“The defendant showed a depraved indifference to human life by fleeing police officers and leading them on a high-speed and very dangerous pursuit,” Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy said in a statement. “I would like to thank all of the officers and agencies involved in this case for safely pursuing and arresting (O’Brien) before he caused a crash that resulted in injuries or worse to innocent third parties.” 

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