February 20, 2026
On February 19, 2026, at approximately 1 p.m., members of the Troop K Community Stabilization Unit, while assigned to the District Attorney’s Safer Highway Initiative (DASH), attempted to stop a vehicle traveling northbound on the Sprain Brook Parkway in the Town of Greenburgh that was operating without license plates. The driver failed to comply, leading to a pursuit.
The vehicle eventually turned down a dead-end road, where the operator, identified as Maximus C. Padilla, 24, of New City, New York, intentionally struck the front of a New York State Police vehicle in an attempt to flee.
The operator and a front-seat passenger were taken into custody and transported to State Police Hawthorne. The passenger was later released.
Padilla was charged with the following:
- Criminal Mischief 3rd, a class E felony
- Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1st, a class E felony
- Reckless Endangerment (Property), a class B misdemeanor
- Reckless Endangerment 2nd, a class A misdemeanor
- Obstruct Governmental Administration 2nd, a class A misdemeanor
- Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle 3rd, a class A misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor
- Multiple Vehicle and Traffic Law violations
Padilla was issued an appearance ticket returnable to the Town of Greenburgh Court on March 17, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.