At about 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7, troopers were investigating a report that a vehicle was stolen at 12:45 a.m. in the Tolland County town of Willington, and while at a home on Ashford Center Road in Ashford, they saw the stolen Ford Mustang driving west, according to Connecticut State Police.
Troopers recognized the driver as Jacob Cormier, of Willington, police said.
The Mustang sped away and troopers lost sight of it, authorities reported.
Troopers then received 911 calls that the Mustang was involved in a crash on Storrs Road in Mansfield and the driver fled the scene, police said.
Police discovered that the Mustang struck two mailboxes, State Police said.
Police located Cormier in Mansfield Hollow State Park, and he ran away from police into Mansfield Hollow Lake, authorities said.
He then swam to shore and was arrested, police said.
Police said Cormier was charged with:
- Evading responsibility resulting in property damage
- Increasing speed in an attempt to escape or elude officer
- Failure to maintain lane
- Interfering with an officer
- Second-degree criminal trover
- First-degree larceny
- Thrid-degree criminal mischief
- Possession of a controlled substance second offense
Authorities said he was held on a $100,000 cash/surety bond and is set to appear in court on Monday, Aug. 8.
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