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A Westport police officer on patrol at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13 spotted a vehicle slowly leaving the area of a local car dealership without any headlights on. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Post Road, the car took off, taking him on a brief pursuit that was terminated due to the excessive rate of speed.
Police said that shortly thereafter, a different officer spotted two men walking eastbound on Post Road near the area where the pursuit had been abandoned. The officer said the two appeared “sweaty and disheveled,” and could not explain what they were doing in the area. A third investigating officer located the suspect vehicle nearby.
A police canine track led from the suspect vehicle to the location of the two suspects, Bronx residents Brandon Rivera, 21, and Luis Santiago, 20.
Investigators checked the dealership and discovered that four tires were stolen from a vehicle in the lot. The vehicle that was being driven by the Bronx residents contained four new tires and rims with a value of approximately $2,400. The vehicle also had a Texas registration plate instead of a Massachusetts plate, where it was registered.
Both men were arrested and taken into police headquarters for processing. Each was charged with larceny from a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit larceny and criminal trespassing. Rivera, who was identified as the driver, was also cited for misuse of plates and disobeying the signal of a police officer in an attempt to escape.
Santiago was held in lieu of $5,000 bond, while Rivera was held in lieu of $3,000 bond. Both are due back in court later this month to answer the charges
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