ethan fry photo
A Metro North flatbed drives down Division Street July 12, 2017 after retrieving an Ansonia city vehicle that had been stolen.
A 15-year-old boy stole a city car used by Ansonia’s blight inspector in the north end Wednesday morning and led police on a chase before driving it onto the Metro-North Railroad tracks into Seymour, according to police.
The suspect was captured after he ditched the vehicle once it became inoperable.
The incident began about 9:40 a.m., when the Ansonia blight inspector, Dave Blackwell, was in the area of 4th Street, according to a prepared statement from Ansonia Police Lt. Andrew Cota.
Cota said Blackwell had parked the Saturn Vue on 4th Street with the keys in the ignition when it was stolen and driven away.
“Officers were able to locate the vehicle traveling south on North Main Street toward East Main Street,” Cota said. “Officers continued to try to stop the vehicle and it continued to flee and eventually drove to the end of the street behind Valley Electric and climbed the flood wall.
“The vehicle then continued north along the top of the floodwall and then entered onto the Metro-North Railroad tracks rail bed,” Cota said. “The vehicle continued along the tracks and almost struck a Metro-North Crew working on the railway. The vehicle then fled along the railroad tracks became disabled on the tracks. When officers located the vehicle, the suspect was gone.”
Cota said officers searched the area, saw a person matching a description of the suspect, and began chasing him in the area of the former Farrell and Ansonia Copper and Brass properties along North Main Street.
Cops from from Derby, Seymour, and Metro North police helped Ansonia officers form a perimeter around the area and began to search for the suspect.
“Eventually, officers surrounded a building and the Ansonia and Seymour K‑9 Officers and their dogs entered the building,” Cota said. “A short time later, a male, matching the description given, was located and taken into custody. The male was located by the Seymour Police Dept. K‑9 team.”
ethan fry photo
Ansonia police talk with Metro-North Railroad workers near the former Ansonia Copper and Brass property July 12.
The building is in Seymour, just over the town line from Ansonia, Cota said, and the suspect was the only person in it at the time.
“He gave up when the dog came in and was searching through the building,” Cota said.
The boy complained of dizziness and was taken to Griffin Hospital to be evaluated before being returned to Ansonia police, Cota said.
Police charged him with third-degree larceny, engaging in pursuit, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree criminal trespass, and interfering with an officer.
He was taken to a Juvenile Detention Center in Bridgeport, Cota said, from which he will be taken to Juvenile Court, the proceedings of which are secret.
Cota thanked several other agencies for helping in the case.
“Ansonia Police would like to thank the Derby, Seymour and MTA Police for their assistance,” Cota said. “Additional assistance was provided by Ansonia, Seymour EMS Crews, and Metro-North work crews.”
