New Bedford Man Arraigned In Break-In Case That Ended In a Car Crash

A New Bedford man pleads not guilty in Falmouth District Court to charges connected to an alleged break-in last year.

According to the Standard Times, 36-year-old Sage Vandersluis was arraigned on charges of breaking and entering in the daytime for a felony, larceny, possession of a burglary tool, and destruction of property. He was ordered held on $5,000 bail.

Police allege Vandersluis broke into a home in Pocasset in March 2014, and was leaving the home just as the homeowner returned. The homeowner chased the sedan Vandersluis was riding in, driven by Kristopher Santillo of Dartmouth, until the car hit a curb, went airborne, and flipped several times into the Bourne Rotary.

Santillo and Vandersluis were trapped in the car until they were removed by emergency crews. They were flown to Brigham and Women's Hospital for treatment.

Police recovered items from their car, allegedly stolen from the Pocasset home, including a 60-inch flatscreen television, jewelry, and video game consoles.

A pretrial hearing for Vandersluis is scheduled for July 8. Santillo pleaded guilty to similar charges in June 2014 and is serving a two-year prison sentence.