A 33-year-old Long Island man was arrested by New Canaan police Friday evening after leading officers in a chase through town following a hit-and-run accident on the Merritt Parkway, according to Sgt. Carol Ogrinc.
Here’s the license plate on the black Nissan Altima that led police on a chase Friday and then crashed. Contributed photo
Police officers were responding to the initial report of the accident when a second call came into the department stating that the victim was following the suspect on the Merritt Parkway, police said. The victim reported to police that the suspect was driving a black Nissan Altima, gave the license plate number, and, soon after, an officer in the immediate area began pursuing the suspect.
The officer followed the suspect as he got off the parkway southbound at exit 36 (Old Stamford Road), drove west on Jelliff Mill Road and then north on Ponus Ridge Road, but discontinued the pursuit when the suspect began accelerating at an unsafe speed, according to the police report. The department then received a call from a Ponus Ridge Road resident in the area of Clearview Lane that a car matching the suspect’s description was parked in her driveway. Officers stationed in the area approached the vehicle and took the suspect into custody.
Here’s the front end of the Nissan post-crash. Contributed photo
According to police, the suspect said he fled the scene because he didn’t have car insurance. Officers stated there was damage to the front end of his vehicle from him crashing into a stone wall as he entered the driveway where he was arrested. No injuries from either accident were reported. NewCanaanite.com discovered later through photos snapped at the scene that the vehicle’s New York state license plate read ‘MAFIA.’
The suspect, a resident of Pollok Street in Hicksville, was charged with evading responsibility for an accident, reckless driving, engaging in a pursuit, no insurance and improper use of a license plate. His bond, which was originally set at $10,000, was lowered to $5,000, and he was scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Norwalk on Monday.