Two people in a motor vehicle suspected in auto parts thefts in Windsor Locks were arrested after a multi-city pursuit that reportedly reached speeds over 100 mph and ended after the car crashed into state police cruisers during a stop Monday.
Around 2:27 a.m. on Monday, Troop H dispatch was advised that the Windsor Locks Police Department was in pursuit of a vehicle allegedly involved in auto parts thefts, according to the Connecticut State Police.
Windsor Locks police reported that the vehicle involved, identified as a gray Mini Cooper, was occupied by multiple people and that they had allegedly displayed a firearm, state police said.
Windsor Locks police said that they were following the Mini Cooper onto Interstate 91 South from the Exit 42 entrance ramp. As troopers headed to the area, Windsor Locks police said they lost sight of the vehicle after it exited the Exit 37 off-ramp in Windsor, according to state police
Windsor Locks police, state troopers and officers from the Windsor Police Department searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the vehicle, state police said.
Now long after, Windsor police said they observed the Mini Cooper on I-91 South prior to Exit 34 but lost sight of the vehicle again in the area of Exit 33. Troopers posted on the highway south of the location said did not see the Mini Cooper pass by, according to state police.
State police said a trooper covering the area of the Exit 39A ramp from I-84 West to Route 9 South saw the Mini Cooper traveling at a high rate of speed and passing other vehicles. The trooper reportedly observed the car on the Exit 39 ramp from Route 9 South in West Hartford and began following the suspect vehicle, according to state police.
“The trooper observed that the operator of the Mini Cooper was on local roads traveling at speeds in excess of 100 mph,” state police said. “After confirming that backup officers were en route, the trooper initiated a motor vehicle stop by activating their cruiser’s lights and sirens. The vehicle continued in an easterly direction on New Britain Avenue, disregarded the traffic light at the intersection of New Britain Avenue and South Main Street, and entered into the city of Hartford.”
According to state police, the Mini Cooper came to a brief stop in the area of Monroe and Cheshire Streets and the front seat passenger opened the door before the vehicle continued on. During the pursuit, troopers reportedly saw items being thrown from the vehicle as it was traveling on Charter Oak Avenue.
Troopers then attempted to box in the vehicle to bring it to a stop. “During the maneuver, the Mini Cooper struck one of the state police cruisers and the operator of the Mini Cooper began to lose control of the vehicle,” state police said. “The Mini Cooper then turned onto Buckingham Street, where troopers were able to bring it to a complete stop.”
According to state police, no troopers were injured as a result of the crash.
Four people exited the Mini Cooper and attempted run away, state police said. A man was Tased after attempting to exit from the front driver’s side door and taken into custody., according to state police. He was later identified as 28-year-old Johquan Repton Angol of Hartford.
Courtesy of Connecticut State Police
Cristalee Ivette Melendez was charged with interfering with an officer after attempting to flee from a vehicle involved in a multi-city pursuit on Monday. (Courtesy of Connecticut State Police)
A woman in the vehicle, later identified as 24-year-old Cristalee Ivette Melendez of Hartford, also engaged troopers in a foot pursuit. Police attempted to use a Taser on her unsuccessfully but were eventually able to detain her, according to state police.
Investigators conducted an extensive search of the surrounding area but were unable to find the two other occupants who fled, state police said.
Troopers alleged that they detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Angol. During a search of the Mini Cooper, the troopers also allegedly smelled alcoholic in a cup in the center console, according to state police.
Troopers also allegedly identified items in the Mini Cooper believed to be connected to the alleged thefts in Windsor Locks. The items were secured and processed as evidence, state police said.
Angol and Melendez were transported to an area hospital for medical evaluations. Following the evaluations, they were transported to Troop H for processing.
“Based on observations of Angol’s driving performance, the odor of an alcoholic beverage, admissions and other signs of impairment, it was determined he had been operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” state police said.
Angol is charged with three counts of throwing objects from a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, failure to obey a traffic control signal, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, engaging police in pursuit, driving the wrong way, misuse registration, reckless driving, interfering with an officer and reckless endangerment. He was being held on a $100,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled for arraignment at Hartford Superior Court on Monday.
Melendez was processed and charged with interfering with an officer. She was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Hartford Superior Court on Oct. 11.
