2 Charged In ‘Street Takeover’ On I-95 In Stratford: State Police

STRATFORD, CT — Two men have been arrested in connection with a “street takeover” that involved more than 100 motorcycles and shut down travel lanes on I-95 South in New Haven, West Haven, Orange, Milford and Stratford on Saturday morning, according to Connecticut State Police.

Police said Troop G in Bridgeport began receiving several 911 calls around 11:10 a.m. reporting a large gathering of Harley Davidson-style motorcycles traveling in an “erratic manner” on I-95 Southbound in the New Haven area.

Troop G dispatchers used Department of Transportation cameras to find approximately more than 100 motorcycles traveling on I-95 South near Exit 46 in New Haven, according to police.

Through the cameras, police said dispatchers saw “several motorcycles performing various stunts and blocking all travel lanes on I-95 Southbound in the New Haven, West Haven, Orange, Milford, and Stratford area.”

Police said they also saw a white GMC Denali pickup truck with a legible Connecticut registration traveling in the left lane, “leading the pack of motorcycles.”

A man was also seen in the rear bed of the truck, apparently unsecured, “filming the operation as several motorcycles were continuously engaging in wheelies and stunts,” according to police.

“Surrounding police departments were notified of the street takeover in progress as Troopers began responding to the area,” police wrote in a news release. “A Trooper positioned themselves on the exit 33 entrance ramp on I-95 Southbound in an attempt to intercept the gathering. Troop G dispatch personnel maintained a visual on the GMC pickup through the traffic cameras and observed the GMC utilizing the left shoulder to pass other vehicles as the group continuously overtook and created a hazard to various motorists on the highway.

“Once the entire group began approaching the Trooper’s location, the Trooper merged onto the highway and positioned their cruiser directly behind the GMC pickup in the center lane. While behind the vehicle, the Trooper observed a Go-Pro style camera mounted on the rear of the GMC’s tailgate and determined there was no longer an unsecured passenger in the bed of the truck. The Trooper also observed the GMC to have a power sliding rear window, making it possible for a passenger to enter and/or exit into the bed of the truck while the vehicle is in motion.

“The Trooper immediately identified the GMC’s displayed Connecticut registration matching the registration observed through the traffic cameras by Troop G dispatch personnel. The Trooper then engaged their emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle. Simultaneously, a number of motorcycles began to surround the Trooper’s cruiser, intentionally interfering with the Trooper’s efforts to stop the GMC and at times almost striking the cruiser. The operator of the GMC failed to stop and continued to travel Southbound on I-95 at a high rate of speed. To avoid a potential risk to the public and involved parties, the Trooper deactivated their cruiser’s emergency lights and siren and disengaged from the vehicle.”

Police tracked the group through traffic cameras as they approached the New York state line on I-95.

New York State Police were advised of the approaching group and successfully stopped the GMC Denali on I-95 Southbound in Mamaroneck, New York, according to police.

A Connecticut State Trooper arrived at the scene and identified the driver as 26-year-old Shaun Puglia of West Haven. The passenger was identified as 28-year-old Ryley Lewis of North Haven, who police said was determined to be the man who was filming the event in the rear bed of the truck.

The trooper found two commercial-style cameras in the backseat of the truck, which police said appeared to be covered with clothes to avoid detection.

Since the traffic stop took place in New York, police said Puglia and Lewis later turned themselves in at the Troop G barracks in connection with the takeover event.

“During arrest processing, both Puglia and Lewis did not deny their involvement with the group of motorcycles,” police wrote. “Puglia claimed to be unaware that the CT State Trooper was trying to pull him over.”

Puglia was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree breach of peace, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, disobeying a signal of an officer, and knowingly inciting in a street takeover. He was released after posting a $30,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 2.

Lewis was charged with second-degree breach of peace, failure to wear safety belt, and knowingly inciting in a street takeover. He was released after posting a $20,000 bond with a court date of Oct. 2.