Mansfield Woman Steals 2 Cars, Leads Police On Wild Chase

Article by Ellyn Santiago/Patch staff

LEDYARD, CT—Two alleged car thieves, who are reported to have stolen two cars, were pursued by Ledyard and Connecticut State police, both on- and off-duty officers working together, and caught after a wild chase.

Ariana Faith Orkney, 18, of 189 Storrs Rd Mnasfiled Center was charged with criminal liability/criminal trespass, criminal liability/first-degree larceny, criminal liability/criminal trover, and interfering with an officer/resisting arrest. She was held on $250,000 bond.

Isaiah Rivera, 21, of 175 Vine St New Britain was charged with risk Of injury to a child, criminal trespass, first-degree larceny, criminal trover, interfering with an officer and reckless endangerment. He was held on $500,000 bond.

Connecticut State Police wrote on Facebook that it was just after 8 p.m. Friday night when officers with Troop E tried to pull over a car that was stolen in Waterford that was traveling north on Route 12 in Preston, near Route 2A. The car not only did not stop, it sped away. Now racing through Gales Ferry on Route 12, Ledyard Police joined the pursuit and, with lights and sirens activated, chased the car east on Route 2A and north on Harris Fuller Road in Preston.

The car, which police said was being driven by Rivera "was traveling too fast to negotiate" a T-intersection at the end of Harris Fuller Road and Middle Road and collided head-on with a tree on Middle Road in Preston. The suspects took off on foot through a residential neighborhood, "trespassing through numerous yards and alarming the neighborhood," with Troop E Troopers and Ledyard Police pursuing.

As troopers set up a perimeter with a K9 was on the way, "unbeknownst to troopers and officers, stole a Chevrolet Silverado from a driveway. The owner of the truck immediately came out of his house and ran to the end of his driveway after his truck."

The truck owner "eventually came across a Ledyard officer and reported it stolen." Information on the stolen car was put out over police radio and an off duty trooper heard it and spotted the car and began to follow it letting other officers know where he was. Meanwhile, police dispatch contacted OnStar, which the car was apparently equipped, which gave its location as well; on Route 2, just east of Route 201 in North Stonington.

While the truck was traveling at 15 MPH, police said, the suspects "jumped from the moving vehicle, landing on Route 2. Both parties fled into the woods, while the truck continued rolling east on Route 2, colliding head on with a minivan traveling west on Route 2. The minivan was occupied by a pregnant mother and four other children.

The suspects took off. Troopers gave chase through heavy brush and prickers and were able to capture both suspects in the woods attached to Wheeler High School.

Rivera sustained injuries during the arrest, police said, and was transported to Backus Hospital. Orkney was taken to Troop E for processing. The owner of the stolen pickup truck was notified of the truck's recovery and responded to the scene and drove it home.

Connecticut State Police Col. Colonel J. Stavros Mellekas described the incident and the way it was handled this way:

"This is a perfect example of our Troopers, both on and off-duty, working hard to protect the citizens of Connecticut and their property. The vital public safety partnership we have with the private sector should also be noted. On-Star helped us bring this incident to a safe conclusion and we appreciate that."