Woman charged with stealing jewelry, striking trooper
By KAYLEIGH KARUTIS, The Leader-Herald
POSTED: June 18, 2008
BROADALBIN — A 19-year-old woman is accused of stealing jewelry from her grandmother and then striking a state trooper with her car Saturday in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Brittany Cloutier, of 11 S. Second St., was approached Saturday by Trooper Samuel Thomson of the Mayfield state police barracks after troopers received a call from Cloutier’s grandmother, Beverly Chapman.
Chapman, who lives with Cloutier, said Cloutier stole about $10,000 worth of jewelry from her, according to state police Senior Investigator Karl Meybaum.
Thomson located Cloutier at her home at about 1:15 p.m. Saturday, and Cloutier admitted taking the jewelry, Meybaum said.
After entering the home, saying she would retrieve the jewelry, she left through the back door, got into her vehicle and tried to flee, Meybaum said.
When Thomson tried to confront her, Meybaum said, Cloutier struck him with the front bumper of her car. Then, when Thomson tried to convince her to exit the car, she backed into him, forcing him onto the trunk of the vehicle.
Cloutier then fled the scene and went to a friend’s residence, Meybaum said. She was found in a friend’s car in the town of Johnstown about four hours later.
Cloutier was arrested by Trooper Donald Klingbeil and charged with assault, grand larceny and resisting arrest. She was taken to the Johnstown Town Court and sent to the Fulton County Jail on $5,000 cash bail or $8,000 bond.
Thomson suffered contusions to his left knee and was taken to Nathan Littauer Hospital, where he was examined and released. Meybaum said Thomson is not expected to miss work or suffer any permanent injury.
Cloutier is a senior at Broadalbin-Perth High School, Meybaum said. He said her father lives in Texas and her mother is deceased.
Cloutier remained in jail Tuesday, and Meybaum said he expected her to remain there, as her relatives have said they would not bail her out.
Kayleigh Karutis covers rural Fulton County news. She can be reached by e-mail at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.
