Teen, 18, Found Inside Stolen Car At Trumbull Mall: Police

TRUMBULL, CT — A New Haven teen is accused of being inside a stolen car while at the Westfield Trumbull Mall on Friday afternoon, police said.

Police said they found Malikhi Isiah Odums, 18, of New Haven, sitting in the driver’s seat of the stolen Hyundai Kona as it was stopped in front of the lower-level Target area. A female passenger was also inside the car, police said.

The vehicle was reported stolen out of New Haven on Dec. 7. "As back up officers were responding to assist, a passenger entered the stolen vehicle which then drove away, with the initial officer following," police said in a news release. "The Hyundai then pulled into a parking space before Odums and his thirteen (13) year old female passenger were quickly taken into police custody."

The Hyundai Kona had the steering column broken where the key cylinder had been removed, and there was a USB cable used to override the vehicle’s ignition system, police said.

"Officers learned that this vehicle and its occupants were connected to numerous stolen vehicle attempts in New Haven in recent days, and had fled from officers who had tried to apprehend them in that city," police said.

Police said the female passenger was not involved in the theft of the vehicle. During the investigation, Odums provided false information to police, which included him signing police documents under a false name, police said.

Odums was charged with Larceny 1st degree, Risk of Injury to a Minor, Forgery 2nd degree, and Interfering with an Officer. He was held on a $25,000 bond.