A man in New Haven was arrested after attempting to steal a police cruiser while an officer was inside. The incident occurred when two officers were parked at a substation on Congress Avenue on Sunday night. One officer was inside the building while the other was writing a report in the cruiser. A man with a history of encounters with the police approached the vehicle and demanded the officer get out of the car. When the officer unlocked the doors, the suspect got into the driver’s seat and sped off, prompting the officer to crash into a nearby church to prevent harm to others.
New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson praised the quick thinking of the officer, who managed to avoid a potential disaster. Both the officer and the suspect sustained minor injuries during the incident. The suspect, who was found holding a small glass pipe, remains in the hospital under police guard on a $500,000 bond. He has been charged with larceny, kidnapping, assault of public safety personnel, criminal trover, and interfering with an officer.
This incident highlights the dangers that law enforcement officers face while on duty and the need for vigilance at all times. The New Haven Police Department commended the officer for his actions in preventing a potentially dangerous situation from escalating further. The suspect will face the appropriate legal consequences for his actions.
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