POUGHKEEPSIE - The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of Walter J. Shuster III, 31, of Beacon, after he led police on a chase that started in Putnam County and ended in the Town of Poughkeepsie.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. Thursday, a Putnam County deputy attempted to stop a vehicle operated by Shuster. He then fled northbound on Route 9D, and was picked up by members of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office who had been monitoring the incident.

Shuster led police through the towns of Beacon, Fishkill, and Wappinger for approximately 25 minutes, striking several road signs, before Dutchess County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to deploy “Stop Sticks” to puncture his tires. Even after his two front tires were deflated, he continued into the Town of Poughkeepsie, until he finally slid into a homeowner’s fence on 9D near Swenson Dr. He was then taken into custody without incident. No one was injured during the episode.

Later, at the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, he tried to discard a bag of what appeared to be crack cocaine. The substance is awaiting final testing at the crime lab.

He is being charged with a variety of offenses in a number of jurisdictions in Dutchess County including Unlawful Fleeing, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Tampering with Evidence, and numerous violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. Other charges in Putnam County are pending.

Shuster is currently on parole for felony drug charges. He was arraigned before City of Poughkeepsie Judge Moloney and was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail without bail.

Agencies involved included the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, City of Beacon, Town of Fishkill, the Village of Wappingers Falls, and the Town of Poughkeepsie Police departments.