#Trumbull CT–Trumbull Police arrested five (5) teenagers in a stolen vehicle after they were involved in a theft at the Westfield Trumbull Mall and then led officers on a high-speed pursuit Saturday for several miles. The vehicle was finally stopped on Route 25 in Trumbull where police apprehended the four (4) juveniles and one 18-year-old from Hartford: Johnny Aspiliare.
The incident began when a mall employee reported that her bag was stolen from her as she sat inside her vehicle during her lunch break. A young male, later identified as a 16- year-old juvenile from Waterbury, reached into the vehicle and grabbed the bag off of the passenger seat through the vehicle’s open window. He then ran to an awaiting 2017 BMW SUV, which was previously reported stolen from a residence in New Canaan, where it had been left unlocked overnight with the keys in it. The BMW then drove through the mall parking lot at a high rate of speed, nearly colliding with several other
vehicles.
An off-duty Trumbull Police officer spotted the speeding vehicle in the parking lot and notified dispatchers of the vehicle’s location and direction of travel. Officer Greg Lee then spotted the stolen SUV as it exited the mall and traveled south on Main Street into Bridgeport. The driver ignored the officer’s signal and continued traveling on Main Street, to Summit Avenue, and entered Route 25 southbound. After exiting the highway at Prospect Street in Bridgeport, the vehicle re-entered Route 25 northbound and continued back into Trumbull. With the assistance of additional officers from Trumbull, Bridgeport, and the State Police, the vehicle was stopped on the highway near the Daniels Farm Road exit.
Police charged Aspiliare with Larceny 1st Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Interfering with an Officer. He was held on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in
court on August 21st
.
The remaining juveniles, all from Waterbury, were all charged with Larceny 1st Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Interfering with an Officer. One of the juveniles, a 15-year-old male from Waterbury, was identified as the driver and was also charged with Reckless Operation, Engaging in Pursuit and a host of other motor vehicle charges. He was later released to a parent.
A second juvenile, a 16-year-old also from Waterbury, was found to have an active arrest warrant from Waterbury Police and was turned over to that agency.
The two (2) remaining juveniles, a 16-year-old male and a 15-year-old female both from Waterbury, were both released to parents. All were scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court on August 21st, 2017.
The vehicle and its occupants are suspected of being involved in similar crimes in the area recently, and detectives are continuing that part of the investigation.
This press release from Trumbull Police was made possible by:
