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The incident took place around 7 p.m., Saturday, March 5 when Westport Police officers responded to the parking lot of 1759 Post Road East on a report of the possible theft of a motor vehicle.
When officers arrived on the scene, they learned a white Hyundai was stolen and that during the theft the owner of the car, a sixty-four-year-old woman, suffered a head injury, said Lt. David Wolf, of the Westport Police.
The victim, who drives for Uber Eats, was picking up an order from Golden Pizza at the time officers believe that while inside the restaurant, the victim observed the suspect enter her unlocked car to steal it, so she went outside to prevent the theft, Wolf said.
While attempting to intervene, the victim suffered a head injury, he added.
The victim was transported to Norwalk Hospital for treatment.
An officer who was stationed on the Sherwood Island Connector saw both the stolen Hyundai as well as a black Acura traveling together.
Both cars got onto I-95 heading towards Bridgeport and attempted to get the cars to pull over, but both fled, police said.
"Due to the severity of the crime, the officer pursued the vehicles," Wolf said.
The officer lost sight of the stolen Hyundai but continued to chase the black Acura. The Acura continued on I-95 eventually getting off Exit 29 in Bridgeport.
After exiting the highway, the driver lost control and struck an occupied vehicle as well as several parked cars, police said.
Two occupants ran from the Acura and the third was detained by the pursuing officer.
The Acura that the suspects were in was reported stolen from Hamden, Wolf said.
The car was searched and Giovanni Abreu, age 18, address unknown, was arrested. along with two juveniles.
Following the arrests, a handgun was located in the vehicle during a search, he added.
The suspects were charged with:
- Robbery
- Conspiracy to commit robbery
- Assault of an elderly person
- Larceny
- Conspiracy to commit first-degree and third-degree larceny
- Criminal possession of a firearm
- Illegal transfer of a firearm
- Theft of a firearm
- Engaging police in a pursuit
- Reckless driving
Abreu was held in custody on a $100,000 bond.
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