Armed teens caught in stolen car at I-95 rest stop

Multiple agencies collaborate after series of vehicle thefts

Two teens, one of them armed, were arrested after they fled in a stolen car onto Interstate 95 and were caught at a rest stop when law enforcement from several agencies and towns converged on the area, police said.

The incident began just after 4 p.m. Friday when the Woodbridge Police Department notified several agencies that an Audi that had been stolen in that town was heading into New Haven, according to West Haven police.

Then, just before 4:30 p.m., a female victim was pumping gas into her Hyundai when a male juvenile got into her car and drove away, according to West Haven police. The woman suffered minor injuries when she tried to stop the theft, according to West Haven police.

“A few minutes later a black Cadillac was stolen from Noble Gas Station on the Boston Post Road. Again while an individual was pumping gas,” West Haven police said in a statement.

The Cadillac was driven to Saw Mill Road in West Haven and the operator hit a vehicle outside 502 Saw Mill Road, Great Way, according to West Haven police.

All the people in the car fled on foot, and “at this time every available unit was sent to the area,” West Haven police said in the statement.

Police said the Audi that had been stolen from Woodbridge was then observed on Saw Mill Road, where the people who had been in the Cadillac were being picked and a patrol sergeant attempted to stop the car.

The Audi, however, was driven onto I-95 and was being operated “with no regard for public safety,” so the sergeant terminated his attempt to stop the car, police said.

While the West Haven Police Department’s Patrol Division and Street Crime Unit investigated the series of incidents, personnel were able to “ascertain the whereabouts of the Audi,” police said.

The Audi was spotted at the I-95 southbound rest stop, police said, and “mutual aid requests went out to Milford Police Department and the Connecticut State Police.”

When joint operation units converged on the Audi, the driver attempted to flee, but the car was stopped by “stop sticks” that were deployed by West Haven officers and the devices deflated all four tires, police said. All of the car’s occupants fled and were later caught, police said.

Police said two 14-year-olds were arrested. One was allegedly carrying a loaded 9mm handgun. Police said both teens “were charged accordingly,” but did not name the charges.