Video shows 5 teens crashing stolen car into East Haven police cruisers
By: Police have released dash cam video of five teenagers who they say were arrested after crashing a stolen car into several cop cars Wednesday morning.
The teenagers, who were 14 and 15 years old, were taken into custody after crashing into several police vehicles, East Haven Police Capt. Joseph Murgo said.
An officer spotted the stolen Hyundai going south around 8:35 a.m. Wednesday. When the driver saw officers in the area, the teen turned down Hudson Street, which is a dead end, according to Murgo.
The vehicle continued down the street toward an ice rink, "but with nowhere to go, attempted to turn around, striking several police vehicles in the process," Murgo said. The Hyundai became disabled on the grass near the tennis courts, according to Murgo.
The five occupants of the stolen vehicle were taken into custody without further incident, Murgo said.
As a precaution, police placed Joseph Melillo Middle School and East Haven Academy into a brief lockdown during the incident. Murgo noted that students were arriving at the schools at the time of the incident and, at one point, the driver of the stolen vehicle nearly struck a car turning into the middle school parking lot.
The lockdown was lifted shortly afterward, Murgo said.
Murgo said the vehicle was stolen in New Haven.
Each of the five teens, who were not identified, were charged with larceny of a motor vehicle. Four of the teens were also charged with conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle and third-degree burglary, according to Murgo.
One of the teens was additionally charged with three counts of assault on police and first-degree criminal trover, Murgo said.
Another teen was also charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, possession of burglars' tools and conspiracy to possess burglary tools, according to Murgo.