Conn. State Police Honor Woman For Her Help Against Fleeing Driver Who Killed Trooper

By means of Christine Dempsey

Source New Haven Register, Conn.

MERIDEN, CT – The woman who police say faced an agitated driver she had just seen fatally striking a state trooper was honored this week by the Connecticut State Police.

Geri-Lyn Dubay received the Commissioner’s Recognition Award during a ceremony at the State Police Training Academy in Meriden on Tuesday.

Police said Dubay “exceeded normal expectations and endangered her own safety, resulting in the apprehension of a fleeing, dangerous individual.”

That person was identified as Alex Oyola-Sanchez of Hartford, and he was charged with second-degree manslaughter, operating while under the influence of drugs and other charges following the crash that killed Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier on May 30. life came. , 2024.

Pelletier was standing outside a vehicle he had just parked on Interstate 84 in Southington and was talking to the driver when he was struck by the pickup Oyola-Sanchez was driving, police said at the time.

Oyola-Sanchez continued to drive and even accelerated as Dubay followed, state police said.

“She followed the evading vehicle and immediately called 9-1-1 to report what she saw,” state police said in announcing the award. “When she caught up with the pickup, she rolled down her window and informed the operator that he had just hit a state trooper.”

They said the driver acknowledged Dubay and then tried to lose her while driving aggressively and erratically. When Dubay saw him pull over and try to stop other vehicles from driving, she pulled up behind the pickup, took pictures of it and continued to notify state police.

A dispatcher told her to stay in her car with the doors locked. But when another vehicle stopped, apparently so someone inside could unknowingly help the man get away, Dubay got out and yelled at the Good Samaritan not to help him, police said, “causing the evasive operator to become increasingly agitated.”

Dubay remained with the driver until state police arrived and took him into custody, they said.

Dubay “provided essential assistance in an emergency situation and prevented the operator who attacked and killed Trooper Pelletier from escaping capture,” state police said. “She exercised superior judgment in taking photographs for evidentiary purposes and provided the dispatch with invaluable information.”

Pelletier, 34, became a soldier in December 2015 after working for the state Department of Correction for two years. He was assigned to the Hartford FBI Task Force and later became a K-9 handler.

Dubay’s was one of 30 awards presented at the ceremony.

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