UPDATE: Driver of Stolen Car Just Arrested by East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — An East Haven Police officer noted that a stolen car out of West Haven had just passed him and the driver refused to stop and what ensued was a pursuit that ran through both East Haven and Branford, police said. The driver of the stolen car crashed into a vehicle and both people in the car have now been arrested.

On Saturday while on routine patrol, Officer Jon Trinh’s License Plate Reader (LPR), alerted him that a stolen vehicle had just passed him. The vehicle, a gray BMW was reported stolen out of West Haven on Aug. 31, police said. A short time later, Officer Anthony Fiorillo spotted the vehicle traveling eastbound on Saltonstall Parkway towards Branford. Fiorillo attempted to initiate a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle, but the operator ignored his signal to stop and fled into Branford, leading officers in a pursuit, police said.

Branford Police, who were already looking for the stolen vehicle, joined the pursuit which was well into their town at this point, police said. The pursuit was terminated by both agencies after the stolen vehicle struck another vehicle at the intersection of West Main Street and Short Beach Road, police said.

The stolen vehicle continued on and officers lost sight of it after it fled westbound on West Main Street, heading back to East Haven. As officers searched the area, they came upon the unoccupied disabled BMW in the middle of the road on Frontage Road underneath the I-95 overpass.

Officers searched the area and found the vehicle’s passenger a short time later in the area of Pardee Place. After a brief foot pursuit, Theresa Cogdell, 21, was apprehended. Cogdell was transported to the East Haven Police Department where she was processed. Cogdell was charged with third-degree larceny and interfering with an officer. She was later released on a $5,000 bond. Cogdell is scheduled to appear in court on September 12, 2018. To sign up for East Haven breaking news alerts and more, click here.

The Connecticut State Police responded to the area to assist with the apprehension of the second suspect, later determined to be Jonathan Diaz-Moore, 20. A CSP trooper spotted Diaz- Moore on Pardee Place and a foot pursuit ensued, police said. Diaz-Moore fled through several backyards on Pardee Place before officers lost sight of him, police said. Officers re-located Diaz-Moore in the area of the 510 Main Street apartments but lost sight of him again after he fled eastbound on Kimberly Avenue through backyards and over fences, police said.

But on Monday evening, police said they have found Diaz-Moore and he is now in custody at the East Haven police department.

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Photos by East Haven police department