Bridgeport Man Is Passenger In Stolen Car That Hits Cop Car: PD

MILFORD, CT — Two men, Stratford and Bridgeport residents, are accused of stealing a car, crashing it into a police cruiser and then crashing once again before fleeing on foot, Milford Police said.

On June 16, police responded to the area of Windward Road on Popes Island Road on a report of individuals looking into vehicles in the parking lots, police said.

Upon officers arrival they saw a vehicle leaving the area at a high rate of speed, which struck a patrol car as it excited the lot and drove off, police said. Police tried to follow the car on Oronoque Road but by the time they had caught up, the vehicle had already crashed into concrete barriers and the occupants fled on foot, police said.

The vehicle had not yet been reported stolen by the owner, police added. Two K-9 teams searched the area but didn't find the two men, police said. But hours later, police found two men walking in the area of Plains Road and Interstate 95 Exit 36 and it appeared they had been out in the rain for some time, police said.

Both men, William Santiago, 21, of Bruce Street in Stratford and Carlos Garcia, 21, of Putnam Street in Bridgeport, are both charged with first-degree larceny, third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, and conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary.

Santiago is also charged with two counts of first-degree failure to appear in court, two counts of reckless driving, interfering with an officer, and two counts of evading responsibility.

Santiago was wanted for failing to appear in court on larceny and burglary charges in Stratford on October 5, 2016 and Fairfield on December 3, 2018, police said.

Garcia was held on a $5,000 bond while Santiago was held on a $56,000 bond.