Hartford Robber Who Permanently Disabled Woman Sent To Prison: State

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford resident was sent to prison last week in connection with a 2020 incident in which he robbed a store, then ran over a woman in the vehicle he stole from her, permanently disabling her.

Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford County state's attorney, said Monday that on Feb.24, Jhuge Arnold, 42, of Hartford, was sentenced to 18 1/2 years in prison for stealing a motor vehicle and striking the vehicle’s owner with the car while fleeing the scene.

Arnold pleaded guilty in Hartford Superior Court on Dec. 19, 2024 to first-degree assault; first-degree robbery; and evading responsibility.

According to Walcott, on Aug. 31, 2020, at approximately 4:10 a.m., Hartford police responded to the Shell gas station at 335 Capitol Ave. on a complaint of a stolen motor vehicle that struck a pedestrian.

Officials said the owner of the vehicle entered the gas station and left her car unlocked in the parking area.

Arnold entered the woman’s vehicle and attempted to drive away from the gas station, according to authorities.

Walcott said when the owner of the vehicle tried to stop him, the defendant put the car in reverse and struck the owner, knocking her to the ground.

Arnold then proceeded to run over the victim with the car and drove away, she said.

Gas station video surveillance captured the incident.

Officers were able to identify Arnold using a shoplifting complaint about him from the same gas station three days prior, state officials said.

Video from body-worn cameras worn by officers who responded to the complaint showed that Arnold was wearing the same clothes he wore during the Aug. 31, 2020 incident.

Police also identified Arnold as a suspect in the hit-and-run when he was arrested wearing the same clothes during the evening of Aug. 31, 2020, for stealing a different car.

"The victim sustained a traumatic brain injury in the assault and now uses a wheelchair because she is no longer able to walk," wrote Walcott in a statement Monday.

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