Woman Fights Off 2 Would-Be Carjackers On Highway In Vernon

VERNON, CT — A thwarted carjacking on the side of Interstate 84 in Vernon Thursday resulted in two men being taken into custody, state police said.

Troopers were able to track down the two men after the Troop C barracks in Tolland received multiple 911 calls.

Initial callers told state police that a gray Porsche SUV was involved and was traveling east on I-84, just past exit 67. Troopers eventually located the Porsche just prior to exit 69 and the woman told them she had been a victim of a carjacking further down the highway in Vernon.

According to an incident report, the woman said she was being tailgated by a "small red vehicle" in the right lane, and she pulled over to the shoulder in an attempt to let it pass. The red car then pulled onto the shoulder as well, according to an incident report.

The woman told state police she shut off the SUV, grabbed her key and purse and exited onto the shoulder, according to an incident report. She said the men, wearing masks, exited the red vehicle and confronted her along the shoulder of I-84 eastbound in Vernon. She said the men accused her of causing a collision and then "attacked" her, according to an incident report.

She told troopers the men grabbed her by the wrist, threw her to the ground and dragged her away further from her SUV, according to an incident report.

They then jumped into the SUV and attempted to drive off, but were unsuccessful because the woman had the ignition key, according to an incident report.

The men confronted the woman again and tried to steal her purse, but she fought back and the contents of her purse spilled onto the pavement, according to an incident report.

The men then dragged the woman back to the SUV, but she freed herself and ran toward other drivers who stopped when seeing the altercation, according to an incident report.

The men fled on foot down the exit 66 off-ramp, and, with a 911 caller spotting, Vernon police managed to corral the two men, according to an incident report.

The woman had fled the scene eastward, state police said.

State police identified the men as 21-year-old Emmanuel Nina-Saldana and 20-year-old Bryan Saldana. Both were charged with improper exit/entry of a highway, negligent pedestrian, robbery by carjacking, criminal simulation, interfering with police, second-degree breach of peace, third-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree unlawful restraint.

Emmanuel Saldana, who was also charged with possession of controlled substance and criminal impersonation, was held overnight on a $1 million bond and was to appear in Rockville Superior Court Friday.

Bryan Saldana was held overnight on a $750,000 bond and was also to appear in court Friday.

Late Friday afternoon, the incident turned political.

Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding, state Sen. Paul Cicarella, Ranking Senator on the Public Safety and Security Committee, and Sen. Jeff Gordon, who represents Vernon, issued a statement at 4 p.m. Friday:

"This alleged lawless violence on our Connecticut highways could have had a tragic outcome if it weren't for Good Samaritans, state and local law enforcement and a courageous victim. We applaud each of their efforts. At the same time, we must look at this example of lawlessness on our dangerous roadways when Democrats tell us Connecticut is a safe state and that state policies don't need to change. Republicans will continue to offer solutions which crack down on lawless individuals while empowering law enforcement at all levels."

The Republican senators said "past policies supported by Democrats" have "tied law enforcement's hands and weakened the courts in holding criminals accountable."

Gov. Ned Lamont's office could not be reached for immediate comment on the statement.