Man Stole Car, Led Cops On Pursuit, Arrested In Old Lyme: State Police

OLD LYME, CT — A man is accused of stealing an SUV in West Haven, then fleeing from police and finally being arrested Old Lyme, according to state police.

West Haven police informed state troopers Wednesday at 3 p.m. that a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee was last seen in the Guilford area. Clinton police later saw the Jeep driving north on I-95, and the driver eluded police.

Old Saybrook police then spotted the Jeep merging onto I-95 northbound from the exit 68 ramp. Old Saybrook police also obtained a photo of the suspect from a local gas station where the suspect was going around asking people for gas money, according to state police.

Then a caller reported to police that they were driving on Lyme Street in Old Lyme and stopped to help a man who was lying on the ground near the exit 70 off-ramp to I-95 southbound. When the driver stopped, the man got up from the ground and unsuccessfully attempted to steal the person's vehicle, state police said.

Troopers met up with the caller who told them the suspect had ran into the woods. Police pursued the suspect and told him to stop running and exit the woods.

A trooper then told the suspect that a K-9 would be deployed, and the "suspect pleaded with the Trooper to not deploy their K-9, and eventually agreed to surrender," according to state police.

The man eventually emerged from the woods and was arrested.

The suspect was identified Manuel Aviles, 36, of West Haven. He was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, interfering with a police officer, and second-degree breach of peace, according to state police.

Aviles was held on $50,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled to appear in New London Superior Court on Thursday.

Police later found the stolen Jeep on I-95 southbound near exit 70 with a flat tire.