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Police began receiving calls of several people in a white Audi SUV attempting to open cars around 5 a.m.
Officer Michael Tomanelli, who was first on the scene, saw the suspects speeding around a curve on Harbor Road and crossing the double line into his path, police said.
He attempted an evasive maneuver, but the car drove straight at him, causing extensive damage to both vehicles and sending Tomanelli to the hospital for evaluation, police said.
Several people fled from the car and Westport Police called on K-9 units for assistance.
Connecticut State Police, Westport’s marine unit and Fairfield, Greenwich and Norwalk units also responded.
A Westport Police drone was deployed and thermal imaging devices were also used to help find the suspects.
Three Waterbury residents were arrested in the incident: Adam Guzman, 19, Julian Jackson, 19, and Rinaldo Garcia-Giron, 18, police said.
Each was charged with first-degree larceny, second-degree criminal trover, assault on a police officer, interfering/resisting arrest, second-degree criminal attempt at burglary, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, first-degree conspiracy at larceny, second-degree conspiracy at criminal trover, conspiracy to commit assault on a police officer, reckless driving and evading responsibility.
Bond was set at $55,000 for each suspect.
In addition, Garcia-Giron was arrested on a felony warrant for first-degree failure to appear stemming from an arrest by state police for similar charges in an April 2017 incident. Bond for this charge was set at $30,000.
Also taken into custody were two juveniles, one male and one female.
The male was charged with first-degree larceny, second-degree criminal trover, assault on a police officer, interfering/resisting arrest, second-degree criminal attempt at burglary, risk of injury to a minor, first-degree conspiracy at larceny, second-degree conspiracy at criminal trover, conspiracy to commit assault on a police officer, reckless driving and evading responsibility, police said
Tomanelli was discharged from hospital in time to assist in the suspects’ apprehension.
The suspects’ vehicle had been stolen out of Weston on Dec. 23.
Orders to detain are being applied for both juvenile suspects.
The incident is under investigation.
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