Suspect From Bank Robbery Charged In Westport MV Crash: PD

WESTPORT, CT — The 29-year-old New Britain man who is accused of robbing a People's United Bank in Fairfield in May was arrested on a warrant by Westport police in connection with a car crash in town as he tried to escape.

Nirav Patel was arrested at the Bridgeport Correctional Facility on Aug. 26 and charged with evading responsibility and failure to drive in the proper lane.

According to Westport police, after Patel robbed the bank - which is located in a Stop & Shop on Kings Highway Cutoff - on May 17, he drove off and soon crashed his vehicle at exit 17 on I-95.

"Arriving units located the vehicle, discovering that it had struck a tree while attempting to exit Interstate 95," wrote Westport police in a statement. "This vehicle had sustained disabling front end damage as a result of the impact. The vehicle operator had fled the scene of the accident on foot, but was ultimately apprehended in the area of the Exit 17 southbound off-ramp of Interstate 95. He was identified as Nirav Patel."

Fairfield police took Patel into custody and charged him with the following in connection with the robbery and getaway:

• Second-degree robbery
• Fourth-degree larceny
• First-degree reckless endangerment
• Evading responsibility of an accident
• Engaging in pursuit
• Reckless driving
• Failure to obey a traffic signal

The case is pending. Subsequently, Westport police obtained the warrant for his arrest related to the crash off exit 17.

Patel was released after posting bond on bail of $5,000 and is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 4.