On Aug. 23 at approximately 2:39 p.m the Derby Police Department identified a motor vehicle that was reported stolen out of Fairfield the night before.
After attempting to stop the vehicle, identified as a blue Volkswagen Passat, the operator fled and engaged the Derby Police in a pursuit from the Hawkins Street area onto Route 8 south. Officers lost sight of the vehicle as it exited Route 8 in downtown Shelton.
About 90 minutes later, an off-duty Derby Police Officer saw the car on Main Street near Home Depot.
After the off-duty officer called the information into dispatch, two Derby police cars saw the suspect vehicle on Route 34 eastbound near Gilbert Street.
As officers again attempted to stop the Volkswagen, a pursuit ensued eastbound on Route 34 into Orange.
The vehicle took off toward Orange, where it crashed into “several vehicles” near Race Brook Road.
The stolen vehicle was occupied by four males, all of whom ran away after the crash.
Derby police officers were able to catch the driver in the woods off Derby Avenue.
Officers from the Woodbridge, Orange, and West Haven Police Departments along with police dogs from Milford and East Haven Police Departments responded to the scene to assist with the accidents and search for the remaining three suspects.
“The three suspects were quickly located by a West Haven Police Sergeant near the periphery of the Race Brook Country Club near Saint John’s Drive. They were detained and transported back to the Derby Police Department,” according to the Derby Police Department’s Facebook page.
The driver was identified as a 17-year-old juvenile from Derby.
Derby police did not release his name.
He was charged with possession of the stolen vehicle, along with engaging officers in a pursuit, reckless driving, evading responsibility, interfering with police and operating without a license. He was also charged with possession of narcotics after found to be in possession of four small bags of crack cocaine.
A 17-year-old from New Haven was identified as the operator of the vehicle that led the Derby police on the earlier pursuit into Shelton. He was charged with possession of the stolen vehicle, engaging police in a pursuit, and interfering with police.
Derby police did not release his name.
The other two suspects were also juveniles (15 and 16 years old) from New Haven. They were each given a juvenile summons for interfering with police.
