Hartford Man Drives Stolen Car to Court Appearance: PD

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man was arrested Wednesday after police discovered the car he had driven to a court appearance had been stolen.

A stolen registration alert was received by the Hartford Parking Authority, and detectives responded to the parked vehicle and recognized it as being a stolen 2014 white Subaru Legacy. The vehicle identification number matched that of an active stolen car from Newington, but the registration plate affixed to the Subaru belonged to a different stolen car and arrest from March 6, in which the plates were not recovered, police said.

Police determined the car was stolen on Feb. 28 with the key fob. While covertly maintaining a visual on the vehicle, the suspect entered the stolen car and attempted to drive away. Police immediately converged upon the car, and the man was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Jonathan Rivera, 25, was charged with second-degree larceny, taking a motor vehicle without the owner's permission and operating a motor vehicle without endorsement.

Rivera told police he drove the stolen vehicle to court and parked it around the corner. He was at court to answer for a previous Hartford auto theft arrest on Feb. 17, police said.

Photo courtesy of Hartford Police Department