Bridgeport Man Accused Of Fleeing From Traffic Stop Arrested: State PD

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Bridgeport man accused of fleeing from a traffic stop on Route 8 in Shelton last month was arrested Tuesday, according to Connecticut State Police.

In a news release, state police said a trooper assigned to Troop I in Bethany traveling in the center lane of Route 8 northbound, prior to Exit 13 in Shelton, on April 26 around 11:30 a.m. saw a gray Nissan Altima pass their cruiser in the right travel lane.

As the Nissan pulled ahead of the cruiser, the trooper began to clock its speed, which was determined to be approximately 85 mph in a posted 55 mph zone, according to state police.

The trooper tried to stop the Nissan by activating the cruiser's emergency lights and siren, however the Nissan slowed and pulled toward the left side to road and came to a stop partially in the left shoulder and partially in the left travel lane, according to state police.

Due to the hazardous location, the trooper used the cruiser's PA system to instruct the driver of the Nissan to move his vehicle to the right side of the road. The driver complied and moved the vehicle to the right shoulder, state police said.

When asked to provide his driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, the driver told the trooper he did not have any paperwork with him in the vehicle and provided a work ID badge as an alternate form of identification, state police said.

The trooper confirmed the photo on the badge was consistent in appearance with the driver and identified him as Elijah Crowell, 21, of Bridgeport, state police said.

Crowell explained the vehicle was registered in his name and he had left the corresponding paperwork at home. When asked if he could display the vehicle's insurance policy information on his phone, Crowell said he was unable to do so, state police said.

Crowell also said he had a driver's license in the state of Connecticut and provided the trooper with his date of birth. When the trooper told Crowell he was stopped for excessive speed, Crowell said he was trying to get to his job in Naugatuck on time, according to state police.

The trooper returned to the cruiser and learned the status of the registration plate displayed on the Nissan was "cancelled" and the vehicle's insurance could not be confirmed. The trooper was also unable to identify any information corroborating Crowell's claim that he was the registered owner of the Nissan, state police said.

A police database also indicated Crowell only possessed an identification card, and the associated Connecticut ID card photograph matched the appearance of the Nissan driver, state police said.

When asked for further information about his license, Crowell explained he recently obtained a license and asked the trooper not to tow the vehicle, state police said.

As the trooper walked back to the cruiser to continue investigating, Crowell accelerating away from the trooper at high speed and fled from the area, according to state police.

The trooper then saw the Nissan exit the highway at Exit 13, use the right shoulder to bypass traffic, enter the intersection at the end of the off ramp and fail to stop for a traffic light, state police said.

Troopers looked for Crowell at his job in Naugatuck but were unable to find him or the Nissan, state police said. The trooper also processed the work ID badge Crowell provided during the traffic stop as evidence.

On Tuesday, troopers located Crowell and the Nissan at his job in Naugatuck around 1:30 p.m. and arrested him.

After determining Crowell was in possession of the keys to the Nissan and that the vehicle remained unregistered with unconfirmed insurance, it was towed from the scene, according to state police.

Crowell was charged with interfering with an officer, speeding, operating a motor vehicle without a license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, failure to insure private motor vehicle, disobeying signal of officer, reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, disobeying a traffic control signal, failure to drive in the proper lane, improper passing, failure to stop on right side of the road and failure to carry operator license.

Crowell was released on a $1,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court next month, according to state police.