Stolen Car Leads to Drug Charges

An alert Hamden police officer, noticing a suspicious car that turned out to be stolen, arrested a town man Thursday after allegedly finding him with six bags of marijuana.

At about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Officer Joseph Liguori saw the car in the area of Dixwell Avenue and Easton Street, according to police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith. A computer check came up wiht the car recently stolen out of Hamden, Smith said.

Officer Liguori tried to stop the car but the driver took off toward New Haven, Smith said.

"Numerous residents assisted Hamden Police in locating the operator of the vehicle, who parked it in the driveway of a Mansfield Street address," Smith said in the release Tuesday. "[The driver] Vincent Steele Jr. was promptly arrested as he exited the vehicle. A subsequent search of Steele led to the discoveryof 6 bags of marijuana."

Steele, 19, of 192 Stanley Rd., Hamden, was charged with second-degree larceny, first-degree reckless endangerment, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, reckless driving and engaging an officer in pursuit.

Steele was held in lieu of $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Oct. 17.