Teens In Custody After Car Theft, Crash In Southington: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Two juvenile males from Bristol are in custody after Southington police said they stole a car and crashed it in town Tuesday evening while fleeing police.

According to the Southington Police Department, both a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old were charged Tuesday and were expected to appear in New Britain Juvenile Court on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Neither suspect is being identified because of their age.

Police said the 17-year-old was charged with interfering with a police officer; theft of a motor vehicle; third-degree larceny; conspiracy to commit assault on a public safety officer; assault on a public safety officer; first-degree criminal mischief; reckless endangerment; reckless driving; evading responsibility with personal injury; and failure to obey a traffic control signal.

The 16-year-old, police said, was charged with interfering with a police officer; third-degree larceny; and conspiracy to commit assault against a public safety officer.

According to the SPD, at about 8:48 p.m., officers were notified via an electronic alert that a stolen vehicle was entering town.

The car was described as a white 2013 Hyundai Elantra and it was reported stolen in Bristol, police said.

According to police, officers found the vehicle pulled over on the side of the road near West Queen Street and Newell Street.

When police pulled up to the car, the Hyundai "rapidly accelerated forwards and struck the front of a marked Southington police vehicle."

Police said the car the driver then operated "recklessly" and turned onto Queen Street.

According to the SPD, officers did not engage in pursuit, and damage to the police vehicle was described as "minor," citing the cruiser having a new front-end grill guard.

Police said the Hyundai "continued at a high rate of speed" north onto Queen Street, ran a red light at Queen's intersection with River Street, and collided with a Mercedes SUV turning from River to Queen Street.

Both vehicles were disabled in the collision, police said.

Upon learning of the crash, police rushed to the scene, saying the driver of the SUV suffered "minor" injuries but didn't require transportation to the hospital.

While one of the Hyundai's occupants was taken into custody, the other fled on foot near Southington's town line with Plainville.

Southington police employed a drone unit and police K-9 officer "Tank," along with help from the Plainville Police Department, which helped set up a perimeter.

The SPD said the second teen suspect was apprehended behind a private business on Birch Drive.

Both juvenile suspects were, then, taken to Hartford Juvenile Detention for processing.