Ithaca, NY — The drunken driver who crashed into the Ithaca police chief’s car two weeks ago was arrested in Virginia on Saturday, according to authorities.
Christopher Rundt, 23, had been on the run and was accused of stealing two cars, including one with a weapon inside, as he eluded police.
Rundt was charged with false identification and public intoxication. There was no indication that he was armed, Virginia Beach police Officer James Cason said.
Virginia police realized that Rundt was connected to crimes in Ithaca, Officer Cason said.
No bail has been set for Rundt. Rundt was arrested in the 300 block of 21st Street in Virginia Beach.
Police have said that Rundt may have been traveling with a woman who was with him at the time of the crash. However, Officer Cason said there was no information about an accomplice.
Rundt crashed into Chief John Barber’s unmarked vehicle on June 17.
Rundt spoke to Chief Barber after the crash on Thursday and apologized. But when Barber went to talk to other witnesses of the crash, Rundt vanished. Police found an opened bottle of rum in Rundt’s car.
Rundt has continued to elude police. A few days after the crash, police got information that Rundt stole a car in the village of Trumansburg.
That vehicle was found in the Ontario County village of Manchester. But Rundt was again missing — police think he stole another car in Manchester.
That second car has been identified as a 2011 Jeep Liberty, license plate GJF8356. There was a .357 Mangum revolver in the car.
Officer Williamson said at the time that Rundt is a drug user who is also wanted by state police for violating the terms of his parole release.
The 5:25 p.m. crash with Chief Barber occurred on West Clinton Street.
“It appears that both vehicles are a total loss as a result of the collision,” police said in a press release.
Witnesses confirmed that Rundt appeared intoxicated as he and Woodward fled the scene of the crash.