I-95 Car Chase Ends In Norwalk, Began In New York: State Police

NORWALK, CT — Two people were arrested by state police Wednesday after a car chase on Interstate 95 that began in New York, passed through a number of towns and ended in Norwalk, according to Connecticut State Police.

In an email, a state police spokesperson said Greenwich police reached out to Troop G around noon and said they were in pursuit of a Ford Transit van wanted in connection to a robbery in New York.

New York State Police were also trying to stop the vehicle as the pursuit crossed into Connecticut from New York, according to state police.

Using traffic cameras, officers found the van on I-95 North in Darien, where traffic was extremely heavy due to an unrelated traffic incident, state police said. Troopers tried to stop the van as it continued on the highway near Exit 10 by deploying stop-sticks, which deflated two of the van's tires.

According to an additional arrest summary provided by state police, the vehicle got off the highway at Exit 11 and eventually crashed at the end of Ridgewood Road in Norwalk, after which the driver and a passenger fled on foot. They were later caught by police.

After further investigation, the vehicle was found to have been stolen from New Haven, state police said.

The driver was identified as Michael Cassella, 43, of Hamden, and charged with reckless driving, first-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, three counts of second-degree reckless endangerment and improper use of marker plates. His bond was set at $25,000 and he is scheduled to appear in court this week.

A Wallingford woman was also arrested by state police on a possession of a controlled substance charge.

State police also noted multiple police agencies responded to the incident and one or more of the people arrested were the subject of active arrest warrants held by other agencies. Cassella and the Wallingford woman were both arrested and charged by Connecticut Stater Police.