Then steals truck, leads cops on eight mile chase, police say
On March 6, at 7 AM the Vermont State Police Derby barracks received a report from Peter Bryant that his vehicle, a 2007 Lexus ES350, had been stolen from the McDonald’s restaurant in Derby. Willie Goodwin, age 35, of Mobile AL was suspected of having stolen the vehicle after having been encountered by US Customs and Border Protection Officers.
CBP Officers found Bryant’s Lexus abandoned on the on-ramp of Interstate 91 South at Exit 28 in Derby while searching for Goodwin and the stolen Lexus. CBP officers then observed Goodwin operating a Ford F150 truck on Interstate 91 South and attempted to stop him.
Marked and unmarked vehicles from Customs and Border Patrol attempted to stop Goodwin with emergency lights and sirens. Goodwin did not comply and pull over for approximately 8 miles. Goodwin was taken into custody without incident after stopping on I-91 South near MM164 in Orleans and transferred to the custody of Vermont State Police.
While investigating the theft of the Lexus a report was received from Chris Wright that the Ford F150 Goodwin was operating had been stolen from Thompson’s Redemption in Derby shortly after the Lexus was abandoned on the on-ramp. Goodwin was transported to the Derby barracks and processed on two counts of Operating without Owners Consent for taking both Bryant’s and Wright’s vehicles without permission and Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement officers. Goodwin was held on $200 bail ordered and will be arraigned on these charges on Wednesday March 8 at 12:30PM.