According to MSP, just after 4 PM, Trooper Paul Conneely observed a Ford Edge exit a tunnel on Rt. 93 south. The Trooper ran the plates and found that the vehicle had been stolen in Lynn on Tuesday. Due to the heavy traffic, the Trooper lost sight of the vehicle. However, minutes later, Trooper Matthew Covino found the vehicle prior to Exit 18.
The operator of the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was underway. The Ford edge was forced to a stop by stalled rush hour traffic near the Mass. Ave Connector.
All four occupants were placed under arrest. Along with Cruz-Ortega, the other occupants were Camilo Ruiz-Escobar, 18, and Cindy Martinez, 18, both of Chelsea. A 16-year-old girl from Chelsea was the fourth occupant.
A Trooper sustained an ankle injury during the apprehension.
During the course of the pursuit the stolen vehicle came in contact with an MSP cruiser. There were no injuries related to that crash.
