Man Charged in Multistate Pursuit Which Began in Somers

A Bloomfield man was taken into custody late Saturday night in connection with an earlier pursuit that crossed several jurisdictions and involved multiple agencies.

Kevin Hartley, 24, is charged with engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, operating under suspension, misuse of registration plate, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and failure to have lights lit. He was held on $5,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Nov. 10.

According to state police, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a trooper from Troop C – Tolland observed a suspicious vehicle at a residence on Main Street in Somers. The vehicle exited the driveway onto the street without its headlights on. When the trooper turned on his emergency lights and siren to try and stop the vehicle, it sped away, starting a pursuit.

The vehicle continued west on Route 190 into Enfield. Officers from the Enfield Police Department took over the pursuit and followed the vehicle as it continued down Hazard Avenue.

The suspect then entered I-91 northbound and crossed the state line into Massachusetts. Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police took over the pursuit and followed the vehicle up I-91 northbound to I-391 in Chicopee. The suspect vehicle then crossed over the grass median and made a u-turn, heading south.

Troopers from Massachusetts advised Enfield police and Connecticut State Police that the vehicle was returning to Connecticut. Enfield police then re-engaged in the pursuit and continued to follow the vehicle on I-91 southbound to Exit 45. Due to the fact that the suspect had been clearly seen and could be identified later, the pursuit was terminated for the safety of the public.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., officers from the East Windsor Police Department located the vehicle and the suspect on Newbury Road in that town. After being positively identified by Enfield police officers and state troopers, Hartley was taken into custody without incident.

Photo courtesy of Connecticut State Police