WHATELY — The two Connecticut men facing charges following a vehicle pursuit near Interstate 91’s Exit 35 off-ramp on Sunday also pleaded not guilty to kidnapping after allegedly coercing a man to drive them away from the area where they crashed the vehicle they were in.

Ernesto Sanchez, 24, of New Britain, Connecticut, and Tommy D. Colon, 18, of Hartford, Connecticut, have been charged with kidnapping, breaking and entering in the daytime for a felony with intent to put a person in fear, trafficking in cocaine (100 grams to 200 grams), and possession of a Class B substance. Sanchez also faces charges of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, a marked lanes violation and a license plate violation.

Sanchez’s bail in Greenfield District Court on Monday was set at $5,000, while Colon’s bail was set at $2,500.

According to a narrative filed by State Trooper Robert J. Berrena, he was near mile-marker 30 along Interstate 91’s northbound lane in Hatfield at roughly 5:20 p.m. on Sunday when he noticed a gray Honda Accord, with a Connecticut rear license plate, pass him with no front license plate, as is required by Connecticut and Massachusetts state laws. Berrena reported he activated his overhead lights and followed the Honda, which he wrote failed to slow down or move over for another trooper who was roadside for an unrelated traffic stop. Berrena reported the Honda eventually pulled over in a breakdown lane.

Berrena’s report states he approached the vehicle, but the driver accelerated and fled the scene before he could make contact. He ultimately terminated pursuit of the Honda out of regard for the public’s safety after observing the car use the breakdown lane to pass other vehicles.

After the car crashed into a guardrail near the Exit 35 off-ramp in Whately, Berrena reportedly drove to the scene and spoke with a man and woman in a van that was grazed by the fleeing vehicle. The man advised Berrena that the individuals ran toward the Whately Park and Ride.

While taking inventory of the crashed vehicle, Berrena allegedly found several pill bottles containing pills that he later learned were not prescribed to either fleeing suspect. With the assistance of a K-9, Trooper Timothy Alben allegedly found in the Honda’s engine block a large tinfoil ball containing a chunky white substance believed to be cocaine. It was later determined the suspected cocaine weighed 112 grams.

According to his report, Berrena learned the suspects had been detained by troopers near Upper Farms Road and Main Street in Hatfield, having been driven there by a man who told police the suspects entered his vehicle at the Whately Park and Ride without his consent and insisted he drive them away. The man reportedly told police he drove the two individuals away because he feared they were armed and might hurt him.

A police report filed by Trooper Timothy J. Martin states he found the suspects, later identified as Sanchez and Colon, walking in an open section of a field. Upon their arrest, Colon allegedly told Martin that he and Sanchez were just walking and smoking. He could not explain how they got to Hatfield, why they were covered in dirt or why they were walking in a random field.

According to Martin’s report, the man who had driven Colon and Sanchez to Hatfield from Whately identified them as the men who had forced him to give them a ride.

Colon is due back in Greenfield District Court for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 29, while Sanchez will return for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 30.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.

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