A pursuit that started in North Stafford ended with both the driver and passenger receiving felony child neglect charges.

On March 3rd at approximately 12:10 a.m. Sergeant J.D. Hurt was patrolling Onville Road. While there, he heard a vehicle, with a rather loud exhaust, approaching at a high rate of speed. The BMW was traveling approximately 60 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. Sergeant Hurt activated his emergency equipment in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop. While at first the BMW turned on his hazard lights and slowed down, the driver would quickly change his mind and take a risky gamble. He would begin fleeing at a high rate of speed onto Barrett Heights Road, initiating a pursuit.

Sergeant Hurt would give chase as the BMW turned onto Travis Lane, then Garrisonville Road, before making its way to the I-95 Southbound entrance ramp. While doing so, the BMW would proceed through a stop sign without stopping and run a red light all while at a high rate of speed. Intentional vehicle contact and spike strips were attempted, but were unfortunately unsuccessful. As the BMW continued its reckless driving pattern, it would fail to maintain the lane of travel and drive on the shoulder to pass other vehicles. At mile marker 136 the pursuit was terminated; however, the investigation was just beginning.

As nearby deputies began canvassing for the vehicle, Sergeant Hurt and Sergeant E.E. West began researching the registration. With the information they obtained, they were able to connect it to a possible suspect, identified as Joseph Ciulin, 19, of Stafford. Deputies would arrive at his residence just as a vehicle was arriving; however, it was not a BMW. Instead Deputies were met with an Uber that contained Ciulin, his wife, identified as Mariana Covaciu, 18, of Stafford, and three children. Deputy I.E. Baldi and Deputy P.J. Leon would locate the BMW in question on Lendall Lane with no child restraints. They would also make contact with a witness.

It was discovered Ciulin was behind the wheel during the pursuit. He would park on Lendall Lane and call for an Uber back to his residence. While waiting for the Uber, he would remove the vehicle’s license plate in an attempt to better conceal it. The license plate was hidden in a baby bag in the possession of Covaciu. Ciulin advised he ran because he was “tired.” It was also discovered he had no driver’s license.

Ciulin was charged with felony eluding, three counts of child neglect, failure to maintain the lane of travel, having a modified exhaust, having a tinted license plate cover, failure to obey a red light, and driving without a license. Covaciu was charged with three counts of child neglect and obstruction of justice. The children involved were turned over to a responsible adult as both suspects were held at Rappahannock Regional Jail without bond.