Man Leads Police on High-Speed Chase from Binghamton to Scranton

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A 53-year-old Cumberland County man, Diriki Birden, led law enforcement officers on a high-speed pursuit that started in Binghamton, New York and concluded in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Birden faces charges of fleeing from law enforcement, recklessly endangering another person, and resisting law enforcement.

Why it matters

High-speed police chases pose significant risks to public safety, often leading to property damage, injuries, and even fatalities. This incident highlights the need for effective law enforcement tactics and policies to minimize the dangers of such pursuits while still holding suspects accountable.

The details

According to the criminal complaint, the chase began around 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday when Binghamton police responded to a report of shots fired into an occupied house during a domestic dispute. Birden, the suspect, fled the scene in a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe. Police located Birden and attempted to stop him as he was fleeing on Interstate 81 south, but he failed to stop and was driving at speeds up to 100 mph. When Birden crossed the state line into Pennsylvania, state police joined the chase and ultimately used a precision immobilization technique (PIT) to stop the fleeing vehicle on I-81 in Scranton.

• On Tuesday around 9:15 a.m., Binghamton police responded to a report of shots fired.
• Birden fled the scene in a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe.
• Police located Birden and attempted to stop him on Interstate 81 south.
• Birden crossed the state line into Pennsylvania, where state police joined the chase.
• State police used a PIT maneuver to stop Birden's vehicle on I-81 in Scranton.

What’s next

A preliminary hearing for Diriki Birden is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on March 3 before District Judge Alyce Farrell.