Posted on: March 21, 2026 07:00 AM

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State Police arrest Rensselaer woman following pursuit

On February 28, 2026, State Police arrested Janette M. Ketcham, 54, of Rensselaer, NY, for:

Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, 5th, a class “D” felony

Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th, a class “A” misdemeanor

Unlawfully Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle, 3rd, a class “A” misdemeanor

Reckless Endangerment, 2nd, a class “A” misdemeanor

Obstructing Governmental Administration, 2nd, a class “A” misdemeanor

Resisting Arrest, a class “A” misdemeanor

Driving While Ability Impaired and numerous other vehicle and traffic law violations

On February 28, 2026, at approximately 2:04 a.m. State Police of Brunswick attempted to stop a vehicle on Alternate State Route 7 in Troy. The driver, later identified as Ketcham, failed to comply, prompting a pursuit. Ketcham continued to operate her vehicle recklessly, at speeds exceeding 100 MPH, onto I-787 and I-90, and eventually into Rensselaer, nearly striking a marked law enforcement vehicle. Ketcham lost control of her vehicle at the intersection of Partition Street and Third Street, struck a snowbank, and became disabled. 

Ketcham was taken into custody and found to possess a substance that later field-tested positive for containing cocaine. She was transported to SP Brunswick, where she was evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), and samples were taken to determine the drug content of her blood.

From NYSP