Man Charged In Connection With Fatal Stamford Crash: Police

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad (CARS) announced on Thursday that John Reese, 33, of Stamford, has been charged in connection to a fatal crash that occurred in November 2020.

According to police, on Nov. 6, 2020 just before 10:30 pm., Stamford resident Michael Bajus was riding his bicycle northbound on Harvard Avenue when he was struck by a 2005 Cadillac. Bajus was thrown off his bicycle and onto the roadway where he stayed, injured. He was then struck by another car — a 2006 Infiniti — which police say was driven by Reese.

Police said the second collision caused life-threatening injuries to Bajus, who was transported to Stamford Hospital where he later died.

"Mr. Reese fled the scene prior to identifying himself to the police, a witness was able to provide officers with his license plate, he was later found near his home. Reese denied any involvement in the collision, and refused to cooperate with the investigation," said CARS Supervisor Sgt. Jeffrey Booth in a news release. The driver of the Cadillac stayed at the scene and spoke with police.

Booth said he was able to obtain an arrest warrant for Reese based on DNA, video evidence, and witness statements. Officers attempted to serve the warrant, Booth said, but Reese wasn't home at the time.

"He told officers over the phone that he would surrender himself, but never did and refused to cooperate," Booth said in a news release.

On Thursday, a person familiar with Reese and the fact he had a warrant, saw him walking on Summer Street in Stamford and was able to alert a police officer, who saw Reese get into a car, Booth said.

After he was stopped, Reese was again uncooperative and refused to get out of his car, but he eventually surrendered, Booth said.

Police said Reese was charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle, felony evading responsibility and violation of probation. At the time of the collision, Booth said, Reese was on probation for an earlier arrest.

Reese is being held on a total of $575,000 in court-set bonds.