WESTPORT — Three teenagers were caught early Sunday after trying to break into cars parked in a resident’s driveway, police said.
The trio was nabbed on Interstate 95 trying to flee from police a day before nine people — three young adults and six juveniles — were charged with similar crimes in town. The latter suspects were apprehended after causing chaos on local streets attempting to elude police.
One of the teens arrested Sunday — 18-year-old Kenmar Shyaam Ausar-Allen, of Meriden — was charged as an adult, while his 17- and 16-year-old accomplices were charged as juveniles.
Police said a local homeowner called “911” shortly before 4:30 a.m. Sunday to report that intruders in his driveway were trying to break into parked vehicles.
Officers dispatched to the scene spotted a black Jeep Grand Cherokee stopped in the middle of the street, according to the report. When an officer focused a spotlight on the Jeep, the vehicle sped toward the police cruiser but swerved away as it fled.
A perimeter, however, already was set up around the incident scene, with officers placing “stop sticks” on the road surfaces to flatten tires of the suspects’ vehicle.
The Jeep, which was reported stolen, drove over the stop sticks, causing its tires to start deflating, but was able to make it to I-95 and headed north.
Followed onto the highway by Westport police, the suspects were forced to stop near Exit 22 in Fairfield when the Jeep’s flat tires made it impossible to continue, according to the report.
The vehicle’s three occupants fled on foot, but the two juveniles were apprehended after a short chase, police said.
The third suspect — identified later Kenmar Shyaam Ausar-Allen, 18, — was tracked down by an officer, assisted by a K-9, where he was hiding in heavy brush near railroad tracks.
Ausar-Allen was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, interfering with an officer, sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny, driving without a valid license and improper use of marker plates.
After Ausar-Allen was taken into custody and formally charged, he was released by Westport police after posting $55,000 bond, but he was immediately turned over to police in New Haven, where he was wanted on several outstanding warrants.
Ausar-Allen is scheduled to be arraigned on the Westport charges Nov. 1 at state Superior Court in Stamford.
The 17- and 16-year-old juveniles, whose names were not released because of their age, were charged with the same crimes as Ausar-Allen, police said.
First off, I want to commend the officers of the Wstport PD who were awake,alert and ready when a call was dispatched Sunday at 4:30 a.m. We can rest assured these men are on the job 24/7. These officers set up speed sticks,conducted a high speed chase on I95 and arrested these criminals to be brought to justice. Job well done!
Secondly, to those who embrace the race to 10% affordable housing, look at the mug shots of this week’s criminals. Multiculturalism is fine when your neighbors are homeowners just like you But .when you invite those who cannot afford to even rent an apartment here ,when they go to the grocery store, or stroll the shops on Main St, or go to school and see what you have which is what they want but cannot afford, what do you think is going to happen?
Just wow. Do you know what you could do to support the police that you praised in the first paragraph? Support affordable housing so they can afford to live in our community.
Wrong again Lauren.
At last zoning zoom meeting I was told by Danielle Dobin that police officers don’t qualify for our low income housing. I wonder what it is that makes you qualify? Never got an answer to that.
Lauren, many of us, myself included, do not have the luxury of living in the town where we work. I’ve commuted 30 years to Manhattan while raising three children in Westport. Somewhere I read in one of the Journal comments, the cabins in Longshore are inhabited by members of the WPD. According to the WPD web page, the entry level salary is $ $72,981 to $99,335 .Until very recently, their job was relatively safe ,dispensing tickets to those driving in excess of 30mph on town roads, those who fail to click it or those on the phone while behind the wheel. Unlike the officers in Bridgeport whose entry level salary is $41 to $61K .These men kiss their wives goodbye and say hope to see you again by 7pm.