Teens Bolt From Gold Lincoln After Pursuit, Chased Down on Foot By Trooper, Ashford Resident

ASHFORD, CT — Two teens were taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after they engaged troopers in a vehicle pursuit, fled the scene on foot and were chased down, state police said.

One of them ran away on handcuffs, state police said.

On Wednesday at 4:07 p.m., a trooper from Tolland-based Troop C was conducting traffic enforcement in an unmarked Dodge Charger in the area of routes 44 and in Ashford.

The trooper then noticed a gold Lincoln coupe traveling west on Route 44 with an improper registration plate, state police said. Prior to attempting to signal the vehicle to pull over, the driver of the Lincoln sped up and attempted to flee the pursuing Trooper, passing vehicles in a no-passing zone and forcing several motorists off the roadway, state police said.

The pursuit then ended when the vehicle crashed into a wire-rope guardrail at Route 44 and Cushman Road, state police said.

The front-seat passenger fled on foot into the nearby woods as the Trooper was hand cuffing the driver, state police said.

As a third passenger was being handcuffed, the driver, who was still handcuffed, fled on foot down Cushman Road and onto a private farm, state police said.

The trooper engaged the fleeing driver in a foot pursuit, and with assistance from the property owner, was able to re-capture the driver and bring him back to the scene, state police said. As other Troopers arrived on scene, the passenger who fled on foot was located in the woods and surrendered, state police said.

The vehicle, a 1988 Lincoln Mark 7, sustained heavy damage and was towed from the scene. The operator, a 17-year-old, was arrested for numerous motor vehicle and criminal charges, but his name was being withheld because of juvenile status, state police said.

The passenger who fled, an 18-year-old male, was also arrested, state police said.

A third person, a back seat passenger, was released and not charged, state police said.

The 17-year-old was charted with:

• Weapons in a motor vehicle
• Second-degree criminal trespass
• Interfering with an officer
• Escape from custody
• Engaging police in pursuit
• Reckless driving
• Passing in no passing zone
• Misuse of a registration plate
• No insurance
• Operating under suspension

State police said he was referred to Juvenile Court in Danielson and a hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16.

Jacian Dunnack, 18, of Turner Street, Willimantic, was charged with:

• Interfering With an Officer
• Criminal Trespass

He is slated to appear in Danielson Superior Court on Nov. 22, state police said.

Photo Credit: CSP