Stolen Car Suspect Tries To Swim Away From Cops At Mansfield Hollow

MANSFIELD, CT — A suspect in a stolen car incident tried to swim away from state police at Mansfield Hollow State Park over the weekend, according to an arrest report.

The saga began at 11 a.m. Sunday, when state police were investigating an overnight car theft in Ashford, according to an arrest report. While they were on Ashford Center Road, the local name for a stretch of Route 44, troopers saw the car in question — a white Ford Mustang — heading west while being driven by 21-year-old Willington resident, Jacob Cormier, according to an arrest report.

The Mustang sped off and troopers lost sight of it, but they later received 911 calls about a collision involving the car on Storrs Road in Mansfield and the callers said they saw the driver flee the scene, according to an arrest report.

State police set up a search detail — complete with a dog unit — and located Cormier at Mansfield Hollow State Park, according to an arrest report. During a foot pursuit, Cormier fled into the lake at the park, but eventually swam back to shore and was taken into custody, state police said.

Cormier was charged with evading responsibility, interfering with police, failure to drive in the proper lane, possession of a controlled substance (second offense), third-degree criminal mischief, first-degree larceny and second-degree criminal trover, and engaging police in a pursuit. His initial bond of $100,000 was upheld at a Monday court arraignment, and he was still in custody Thursday after failing to post it.

He is due back in court on Aug. 22.