Suspected Greenwich Car Thief Busted on Cruise Ship

A third suspect is facing burglary and larceny charges in connection with the theft of a Chevy Impala from Cliff Avenue home in the Byram neighborhood of Greenwich.

The 18-year-old was caught aboard a Carnival Cruise line ship in Miami, FL where he was about to embark on a trip to the Caribbean Islands with his family on Aug. 1, according to Greenwich Police. Police had obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect, a fact that was discovered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Patrol Unit agents who were checking passengers as they boarded the ship, police said.

Once agents confirmed the veracity of the warrant with Greenwich Police, they took Jamaal Hanton, of High Street, Stamford, into custody and detained at a Miami-Dade lockup until Greenwich detectives flew to Florida and took him into custody on Aug. 13, police said.

Hanton waived extradition and agreed to return to Greenwich where he was charged with third-degree larceny, interfering with an investigation, possession of burglary tools, possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny and third-degree criminal trespass.

Hanton is one of three men accused of stealing the Impala on June 27. The theft was discovered by a patrol officer who spotted the Impala and another car driving along side one another on Cliff Avenue, police have said. After a pursuit, the driver of the car jumped from the vehicle which then rolled into some nearby bushes.

Hanton initially was unable to post $15,000 bond. He has since been released on a promise to return to state Superior Court in Stamford on Sept. 17, according to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website.

The other suspects facing charges are Shicquane Narine, 19, also of Stamford, and Donald E. Smith, 19, of 26 High St., Norwalk. They have been charged with with third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny, interfering with an investigation, possession of burglary tools, and possession of less than a half-ounce of marijuana.

Greenwich Police photo: Jamaal Hanton.