Man In Stolen Car Flees From Police, Charged: Naugatuck Police

NAUGATUCK, CT — A man driving a stolen red Honda CRV fled police back in July but was arrested in New York and extradited back to Naugatuck this week, police said. He was released on a $10,000 bond.

At 1:43 a.m. on July 18, police tried to stop the car driven by Michael McCann-Ortiz, 19, as he was leaving Walmart on New Haven Road after learning it was stolen out of New Britain, police said.

"The vehicle fled officers at a high rate of speed and eluded their attempts at stopping it," police said.

Police were able to identify McCann-Ortiz as the suspect and an arrest warrant was applied for, police said. He was arrested in August after he crashed a stolen car in Westchester, New York, police said.

Working with Westchester Police, McCann-Ortiz was extradited to Connecticut by Naugatuck Police Detectives on Thursday and is charged with third-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, reckless endangerment, and engaging police in pursuit.

This incident was investigated by Naugatuck Police Officer Shelby Johnson.