Multi-Town Police Pursuit Moves Through Stratford: State Police

STRATFORD, CT — A driver accused of hitting police cruisers and evading officers during a multi-town pursuit and the vehicle's passenger were arrested Tuesday afternoon, according to Connecticut State Police.

In an arrest summary, state police said they received reports around noon of Shelton police officers in pursuit of a white Nissan Altima with Connecticut misuse registration.

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According to state police, the occupants of the vehicle were suspected of being involved in a pursuit earlier that morning during which multiple Milford police cruisers were struck.

Shelton officers located and began pursuing the vehicle in the area of Huntington Turnpike and Trap Falls Road in Shelton, state police said.

Shelton police reported the vehicle was involved in a crash and left the scene while officers were trying to stop the vehicle, according to state police.

Troop G troopers joined Shelton officers as they tried to stop the vehicle in the area of Nichols Avenue and Penny Avenue in Stratford, state police said.

According to state police, the vehicle was seen running multiple red lights and unsafe passing while trying to flee the area.

The vehicle then entered the soccer field of Second Hill Lane Elementary School in Stratford and drove across the playground, according to state police.

Troopers then tried to stop the vehicle in the area of Second Hill Road and Broadbridge Avenue as it continued through the streets of Stratford, into Bridgeport and onto Route 8 south through the Exit 2B ramp toward Interstate 95, state police said.

The vehicle then became disabled on the I-95 south Exit 19 ramp in Fairfield "after being involved in multiple collisions," according to state police.

The driver, identified as George Jakubowski, 32, of Bridgeport, tried to flee on foot but was arrested shortly after, according to state police.

Jakubowski was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia, state police said.

The front seat passenger, later identified as Louann Bodnar, 32, of Milford, remained inside the vehicle and manually locked the doors, state police said.

According to state police, Bodnar "ignored all commands to exit the vehicle" and moved to the back seat of the vehicle as troopers tried to gain entry.

Bodnar then leaned over into the passenger compartment from the back seat, retrieved a tin foil wrapper with burnt black residue on the surface, ignited the base of the foil wrapper with a lighter and began inhaling the smoke through a straw, according to state police.

Jakubowski was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury to a minor, reckless driving, interfering with an officer, improper use of maker plates, possession of drug paraphernalia, disobeying signal of an officer and failure to maintain proper lane.

He was unable to post his $10,000 bond and taken to Bridgeport Correctional Center and surrendered to correction officers' custody, according to state police.

Bodnar was charged with possession of controlled substance.

She was unable to post her $5,000 bond and transferred to York Correctional Center, according to state police.

Jakubowski and Bodnar were both scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning, according to state police.