Stop Sticks Curb Racing In Middletown, Ansonia Man Charged: Police

MIDDLETOWN, CT — An Ansonia man is facing multiple charges after authorities said he fled state troopers attempting to stop him and others from racing on Route 9 in Cromwell and Middletown, authorities said.

Connecticut State Police said at approximately 12:40 a.m. Saturday, officers were investigating a large group of cars that were reported driving at a high rate of speed and racing on Route 9. Officers followed the group of vehicles to the DOT commuter lot located off Industrial Park Road in Cromwell, where the drivers were "engaging in reckless and dangerous activities," according to police.

Police said officers approached 18-year-old Nathan Z. Delvalle, who was sitting in his vehicle. Officers told him to stop and shut off his car, but Delvalle reportedly ignored their requests.

As officers tried to remove Delvalle from his car, police said he accelerated, dragging a trooper a short distance before trying to leave the lot. Delvalle ran over stop sticks at the lot's entrance and nearly struck two state police cruisers as he passed, police said.

Officers later found Delvalle behind a business attempting to change his tire, police said. He was taken into custody on several charges, including reckless driving, disobeying an officer's signal, engaging police in a pursuit, racing and resisting arrest.

Delvalle was scheduled to appear in court Saturday.