When officers on foot tried to stop a speeding Dodge Stratus, they had to jump out of the street to avoid being run over, according to a police report. A short time later the unlicensed driver of the stolen car was arrested.
Here’s what happened, according to an incident report written by Officer William Hoffman:
At 11:15 a.m. on the Fourth of July, Officer Hoffman and Sgt. John MacGoveny were doing traffic enforcement on Townsend Avenue near Tuttle Street in the East Shore. The motorcycle cops were on foot. Hoffman spotted a green Dodge Stratus traveling south on Townsend, passing several vehicles by cutting into the northbound lane. As the car approached, Hoffman stepped slightly into the street and put his hand to try to stop it. MacGoveny did the same.
But the car didn’t stop. Even worse, as it passed, the driver swerved towards the cops, forcing them to jump out of the street. MacGoveny saw what appeared to be a teenager driving the car, with a young man as a passenger. Both looked directly at him as they sped by. Hoffman noted the plate number and phoned it in while MacGoveny on his bike and pursued the car. The plate number search indicated that the vehicle was stolen.
Hoffman also went after the Stratus, with lights flashing and sirens wailing. He pursued it down Townsend Avenue to Burr Street, then back north on Townsend. The car swerved through traffic, at times heading right at oncoming vehicles. On the orders of MacGoveny, Hoffman abandoned his chase near Quinnipiac Avenue and Ferry Street.
A short time later, police received a call that the Stratus had stopped near Clifton and Quinnipiac Avenues and its occupants were fleeing the scene through backyards north of Quinnipiac Avenue. Officers William Hurley and Eddie Morrone spotted the two young men and arrested them. Hoffman was able to ID them when he arrived.
The 17-year-old driver was charged with two counts of attempting to assault a police officer, reckless driving, engaging in pursuit, and driving without a license.
Alleged Carjacker Sought
NHPD
Police are looking for a man in a blue shirt (pictured) captured on a surveillance camera shortly before he allegedly carjacked a vehicle with a baby in it on Sunday.
Here’s what happened, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery:
On the morning of July 4, a man stole a car from gas station on Forbes Avenue, while a 10-month-old baby sat in the backseat. The car was found a couple of hours later, abandoned with the baby still inside. See Bill Kaempffer’s report for the Register here.
Police are asking anyone with information about the alleged carjacker to call 203 946‑6316.
Crime Map
Click here for a list of major crimes for July 6. Click on the image below to see those incidents placed on a citywide map.
NHPD
For block-by-block year-to-date crime information, plus daily crime maps, check out the Independent’s Crime Log.
People FLY down Townsend and pass other cars illegally on a regular basis.
I walk with my pup along that street, as well as Kneeland and Woodward, almost every day. While the traffic-calming roundabouts on Woodward don't stop everyone from speeding (it's amazing to see some people just cruise right over them, barely slowing down), they've improved things greatly on that street. Passing, at least, is less of an option. There are pros and cons to putting the same roundabouts on Townsend, but I think safety trumps inconvenience. People travel in excess of 60mph on stretches of that road.
Last fall a car jumped the curb in an accident at Townsend and Tuttle, where I had been standing with my dog less than minute before. I fear it's going to take some kind of tragedy to convince the city that better enforcement of speeding is imperative on Townsend. (And I won't even get into the people who blow the stop sign at Townsend and Parker Place, opposite the seawall.)
I'm glad no one, especially the officers, was hurt. And although I'm very happy the driver was eventually caught, I'm also glad to see that the cops gave up the chase through Fair Haven, rather than further endanger the lives of pedestrians and other drivers in that neighborhood.