Hudson Valley Man Slashes Throat After Trying to Flee Police

A Hudson Valley man, with a long criminal past, is accused of slashing his throat after stealing from a local store and fleeing police.

On Monday around 9:30 p.m., an officer from the Monroe Police Department was patrolling the Shop-Rite Plaza when he spotted a man running from the Rite Aid Drug Store. Running behind the man was a female Rite Aid employee, who was motioning for the police officer to stop the man, officials say.

The man, 44-year-old Jesse Boniface of Middletown, got into his car and fled. A high speed chase through multiple Orange County towns followed.

Multiple police agencies joined in the pursuit as the vehicle continued through the Town of Chester, Village of Chester and the Town of Blooming Grove.

Officers then used stop stickers, which caused the vehicle's driver side rear tire to go flat. Boniface still refused to stop the vehicle and continued westerly on Route 17M.

Back in the Town of Chester, Boniface deliberately crashed his vehicle into a tree, police say.

As multiple officers approached the vehicle, Boniface yelled that he was going to kill himself, took out a knife and slashed his own throat multiple times, according to authorities.

Officers quickly removed Boniface from the car and began life-saving first aid until an ambulance arrived. He was transported to a local hospital.

At the scene, officers allegedly recovered $600 worth of stolen Rite Aid items and multiple reported stolen credit cards. Detectives soon discovered the car Boniface was fleeing in was also reported stolen, police say.

On Thursday, Boniface was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, two counts of criminal possession of stolen property, felonies, petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, aggravated unlicensed operation, unlawfully fleeing a police officer, misdemeanors, and multiple vehicle and traffic infractions.

Police say, Boniface has a lengthy criminal record, including 17 arrests and 3 prior felony convictions. He is due back in Monroe Village Court on Dec. 21.