With Permission
Branford Police captured two juveniles in a stolen white Scion TC early this morning after they collided with a police cruiser near an underpass at the Eel Pot restaurant on Meadow Street. The cars collided left fender to left fender.
With Permission
Neither Sgt. Dominic Eula, the driver of the police cruiser, nor the juveniles were injured, Capt. Geoffrey Morgan said. Eula was briefly trapped in his car.
The two cars collided as Sergeant Eula attempted to enter Indian Neck Avenue from Meadow Street and the fleeing vehicle collided with Eula’s cruiser. One of juveniles was captured after Eula left his car via the passenger door and apprehended him in the rear seat of the fleeing vehicle. One juvenile suspect was captured a short time later by Ace, the East Haven Police Department’s K‑9.
After the crash, two of the juveniles escaped on foot; a third also escaped and is still at large. Police are looking for him. The three juveniles, including one who lives in Branford, are under age 18 but are known to the police. Morgan said the juveniles, whose names were not released because of their age, were trying to steal cars when the crash occurred. One of the suspects, he said, was a chronic offender.
In Branford, more than 50 cars were stolen last year, Morgan said. Other shoreline communities have been hit as well.
Police Chief Kevin Halloran said the community has been plagued by car thefts and stolen items from cars over the past year. Chief Halloran noted that data collection in cooperation with a number of other shoreline communities revealed over 100 stolen cars since January 1, 2018. “Based on an average of $15,000 per car, the total loss is upwards of $1.5 million.” The chief continued, “Those juveniles captured this morning are repeat offenders of this type of crime and are involved with other types of serious crime.”
Chief Halloran said that he will be collaborating with other area police chiefs to strengthen juvenile laws and, hopefully, reduce the ability for serious juvenile offenders to re-offend.
Shortly before 5 a.m. five or six police cars raced to the Eel Pot area after they learned the police cruiser was hit. Ace was also called to the scene. Residents in the area were awakened and at least one home was searched as police sought to find the suspects.
Yesterday morning Morgan had alerted the Branford community via Twitter that stolen autos and thefts from autos continued to rise in town. He urged residents to lock their cars and to call police if they see or hear anything suspicious.
And that is apparently what happened.
An alert citizen called police about suspicious activity in the Indian Neck neighborhood.
Morgan issued the following statement:
“We will continue to focus on this problem and appreciate your support with your continued vigilance by reporting all occurrences of suspicious activity as soon as possible, locking your cars and removing personal items. If you are a victim as a result of this incident, please call BPD at 203 – 481-4241.”
###
