Crime & Safety

UPDATE: 14-Year-Old Naugatuck Teen Stalked by Man, Suspect Flees, Hits Teen, 18 With a Car: Police

Naugatuck police say the suspect allegedly harassed the teen on school grounds and the situation escalated when teens came to help her.

UPDATE: On May 5 at about 4:20 p.m. Naugatuck police responded to a call that involved an 18 year-old man that was struck by a vehicle which then fled the scene.

The victim received minor injuries from the accident and was not hospitalized, police said. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Brendan Burns, 27, of 2 Fawn Hollow Drive, Seymour.

Burns was involved in another evading accident in Naugatuck upon fleeing the scene of the first accident, police said. The second accident occurred at the intersection of Meadow Street and Rubber Avenue when the vehicle operated by Burns rear ended another car, police said.

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The initial incident occurred in the parking lot of Hillside School after Burns was confronted by several people after they were advised by 14 year-old female that she was being followed by Burns, police said.

The 14 year-old female advised that Burns drove up to her while she was walking with a friend and asked if they needed a ride, police said.

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The teen advised that a short time later when she was walking alone, the subject confronted her again and asked her again if she needed a ride and if she had boyfriend, police said.

The teen stated that Burns asked her for her phone number and if she “smoked,” police said. The teen advised that Burns turned his car around because he wanted to give her his phone number and at that time she ran away from him and advised a group of people she knew playing basketball at Salem School that Burns was following her, police said.

It was at that time that the group confronted Burns while he was parked in his vehicle in the parking lot of Hillside School located just above Salem School.

Burns was located and apprehended by Seymour police after a brief pursuit through the woods near his home. Burns was turned over to Naugatuck Police where he was charged with second-degree threatening, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree stalking, loitering on school grounds and two counts of breach of peace. Burns was also charged with evading responsibility and failure to drive a safe distance apart regarding the second evading incident.

Burns was released on a $25,000 Bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Wednesday May 13, 2015.

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