Police Finally ‘Ketcham’: Rensselaer Woman Arrested After Wild 100 MPH Pursuit

Ketcham Took Police on Wild Chase

With a last name like "Ketcham," this local woman was born to either be an officer or a driver with a very heavy foot.

A Rensselaer woman with a last name that sounds straight out of a police blotter is facing a long list of charges after a dangerous early morning chase across the Capital Region.

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According to New York State Police, 54-year-old Janette M. Ketcham was arrested following a pursuit that began just after 2 a.m. on February 28 in Troy. Troopers attempted to stop her vehicle on Alternate Route 7, but Ketcham allegedly refused to comply—kicking off a high-speed chase that stretched across I-787 and I-90.

Over 100 MPH

Police say Ketcham drove at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour and nearly struck a marked patrol vehicle during the pursuit, putting other drivers and law enforcement at serious risk.

The chase finally ended in Rensselaer when Ketcham lost control of her vehicle at the intersection of Partition Street and Third Street, crashed into a snowbank, and was taken into custody.

State Police say she was found in possession of a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine and was later evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert.

She Faces a Litany of Charges

Ketcham now faces multiple charges, including felony criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful fleeing, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, and driving while impaired.

She was arraigned in Rensselaer City Court and released under probation supervision.