A legal driver who led police on a 110 mph chase through Ohio complained that she lost her phone when she was arrested.
Esther Paragulla, 33, was seen in harrowing body camera footage being pulled over on the shoulder of a highway after the dramatic 30-mile chase ended when patrol cars surrounded her vehicle.
As state troopers pulled her out of the vehicle on the Ohio Turnpike, she can be heard complaining that her phone had been confiscated and questioning why she was being arrested.
Paragulla claimed to have no idea what “flee and elude” meant in the images obtained by Law and crime.
About three minutes into the video, officers are seen urging Paragulla to surrender during the June 29 incident.
Esther Paragulla, 33, was seen in harrowing body camera footage as she was pulled over on the shoulder of the road after the dramatic 30-mile chase ended when patrol cars surrounded her vehicle and she stopped.
As state troopers pulled her from the car, she was heard boldly complaining that her phone had been confiscated while questioning the officers’ actions and claiming to have no idea what the term “flee and elude” meant.
“You’re not going to win this one! The car is already falling apart,” one officer said on the recording. “You’re in enough trouble already, you don’t want any more. Go ahead and stop him. You’ll never make it, there’s like 10 of us now.”
“Stop, your tires are bad, your car is bad, you are bad,” the policeman said. “You have nowhere else to go! Stop now!”
The chase eventually ended near the I-77 exit for Cleveland and Akron. Officers, guns drawn, surrounded the stopped Nissan.
To gain access to the vehicle, officers smashed the passenger side window and forcibly removed a male passenger, who was then subdued on the ground.
The soldiers then approached the driver’s door and pulled her out of the vehicle.
—Ow! What the hell is your problem? —said the driver as the handcuffs were put on him. —Are you serious?
When the policeman took Paragulla’s phone away, that was the last straw for the woman.
“You are under arrest for fleeing and eluding,” the police officer replied.
“Why? Fleeing and eluding? What does that mean?” the driver asked.
The chase eventually ended near the I-77 exit for Cleveland and Akron. Officers, with guns drawn, surrounded the stopped Nissan. Officers then approached the driver’s door and pulled her out of the vehicle.
Paragulla (pictured) pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on July 8.
When Paragulla was detained, the arresting officer informed her of her Miranda rights.
At the same time, the male passenger in the vehicle remained on the ground with his hands handcuffed behind his back.
Authorities have not yet identified or charged the male passenger involved in the high-speed chase.
The chase originated in Trumbull County before entering Portage County, where Esther Paragulla was later charged.
He faces charges of assaulting a police officer, fleeing and eluding police and obstructing official business.
Paragulla pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on July 8.
