A Bridgeport man driving an allegedly stolen car was arrested early Wednesday morning after he was stopped and fled police on Skiff Street.
At about 1:30a.m. Officer Edward Stoor of the Hamden Police Department saw a car speeding east on Skiff Street, police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith said.
"The operator abandoned the vehicle in the 500 block of Skiff Street," Smith said. "Officer Stoor entered the “rolling” vehicle and stopped it before it struck 2 parked vehicles. The operator then fled on foot through nearby yards."
Officer Jason Venditto and his K-9 partner “Titan” began to track the man, identified as Jael Maldonado, 19, of 981 Sylvan Ave., Bridgeport, to 1024 Hartford Tpke., Smith said.
"Titan continuously looked upwards as he circled a tree," Smith said. "Maldonado was found hiding in the tree, approximately 25 feet off the ground."
Officers discovered that the car had been stolen moments earlier from the parking lot of Lee Partyka Chevrolet, Smith said.
Maldonado was charged with first-degree larceny, operating under suspension, engaging in pursuit, failure to obey a control signal and failure to use lights.
He was released after posting a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court May 2.
