Shoplifting Incident Leads To Crash, Foot Chase, 2 Arrests: PD

EAST HAVEN, CT — Two out of three people who are accused of being involved in a shoplifting incident in East Haven that continued into Branford and ended back in East Haven concluded with a foot chase, police said. The third suspect, who fled crossing all four lanes of Interstate 95, managed to get away, police said. The suspect vehicle also crashed, police said.

At 5:30 p.m. on March 10, police officer, Joe Carangelo, was flagged down by a concerned citizen who reported a possible shoplifting in progress at TJ Maxx, 68 E. Frontage Road. The concerned citizen told Carangelo that the shoplifters entered a dark pickup truck which was exiting the parking lot, police said.

Carangelo saw the pickup truck leaving the parking lot and saw the vehicle enter I-95 northbound, police said. Carangelo was too far away from the suspect's vehicle to attempt a stop on it but saw the driver continue to "drive recklessly on the highway, weaving in and out of traffic" before exiting at exit 53 in Branford, police said.

Deciding not to pursue the vehicle, Carangelo radioed the vehicles last known location to the Branford Police Department, exited the highway at exit 54 and returned back to town via I-95 southbound, police said.

Once off the highway and back in town, Carangelo saw the suspect vehicle on Frontage Road westbound, police said. In an attempt to elude police, the driver of the suspect vehicle continued to "drive recklessly on Frontage Road westbound and struck several vehicles while attempting a lane change," police said. The accident disabled the suspect vehicle, whose occupants then fled on foot, police said.

Carangelo and Officer Anthony Fiorillo took two of the three suspects into custody after a foot pursuit along Frontage Road, police said. The third suspect, who fled crossing all four lanes of I-95 managed to get away, police said.

Antania Nichelle Hall, 18, and Tracey M. Biggs, 23, were taken into custody. The suspect vehicle, a black 2013 Chevy Silverado, was stolen out of West Haven, police said.

Hall, of Chatham Street, New Haven was charged with second-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, fifth-degree larceny, and conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny.

Biggs, of Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, was charged with second-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, fifth larceny, and conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny.