Man Wanted For Tire Theft, Rammed Police Cruiser, Apprehended By Alert Officer: Branford Police

BRANFORD, CT — An East Haven man is accused of a tire theft from a Branford business and as the suspect fled he rammed a Branford police cruiser but the man was apprehended a day later by an alert East Haven police officer, police said.

Following an investigation of a tire theft in progress at Al Mac Motors at 117 North Main Street on Wednesday, July 5 the Branford Police arrested Janssen Padilla, 36 of East Haven yesterday afternoon on an arrest warrant, Branford Police said.

During the July 5 incident, one of the responding patrol officers attempted to block the suspect vehicle from leaving the parking lot, police said. However, the suspect rammed this officer’s cruiser, ultimately fleeing in a gray Jeep Cherokee, police said.

Branford Police pursued this vehicle for several miles and obtained a detailed description before they lost sight of the vehicle and terminated the pursuit, police said. The description of the vehicle was distributed to other law enforcement agencies.

The following day, an alert East Haven Police Patrol Officer stopped a gray Jeep Cherokee believed to be used in the July 5 incident based on damage consistent with the damage to the Branford Police cruiser from being rammed, police said. The vehicle East Haven Police stopped was operated by Janssen Padilla, police said. Padilla was identified as by one of the responding Branford Police Officers as being the suspect in the incident on July 5, police said.

Janssen Padilla was held on a court set bond of $100,000 for the charges of Larceny 4th Degree, Assault on a Police Officer, Interfering with an Officer, Engaging Police in Pursuit, Evading Responsibility, Reckless Driving, Operating with a Suspended License, and Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree. Padilla was arraigned in New Haven Superior Court today for these charges.

Image via Branford Police