FALLSBURG, NY — Michael Leto, 28, of Hauppauge, and Courtney Rauch, 30, of Sag Harbor were arrested on December 8 after leading Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputies on a short high-speed chase.

Deputy Matthew Bisland and Deputy John Panos were on patrol on State Route 17 in Monticello when they clocked a 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue traveling westbound at 85 miles per hour in a 55 zone. When they attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver quickly got off the highway at exit 105 and attempted to flee northbound on State Route 42 toward Fallsburg. Deputies followed the vehicle until it ran off the road and crashed on State Route 42 just before Heiden Road.

Leto, and Rauch, 30, were transported to Catskill Regional Medical Center to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash. The vehicle they were operating was reported stolen from a gas station in North Babylon, Long Island, at about 5:30 p.m. the night before.

Deputies learned from the Suffolk County Police that the owner was inside of the gas station playing a scratch-off lottery game and had left his vehicle at the curb with the engine running. Sheriff’s deputies determined that Leto, who initially gave a false name, was wanted on a parole warrant. He had served a state prison sentence for robbery and knew that authorities were looking for him on Long Island. The pair told deputies that they were fleeing upstate.

Rauch was treated and released from the hospital. She was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and sent to the Sullivan County jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Leto was held overnight in the hospital for observation and released Sunday morning. He was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment and unlawfully fleeing a police officer and related charges. Leto was sent to the Sullivan County Jail without bail.