This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/04/2019 11:00 PMBranford Police arrested a 31 year-old New Haven man following his alleged involvement multiple motor vehicle accidents and carjackings in both Branford and on Interstate 95 as he attempted to evade police on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
According to information shared by Branford Police Department (BPD) on Facebook on Dec. 5, police arrested Manuel Aviles, 31, of New Haven on Dec. 5 at New Haven Superior Court in connection with the Dec. 4 incidents, after he was taken into custody by Connecticut State Police on Dec. 4.
Police charged Aviles with Robbery Involving an Occupied Motor Vehicle (Carjacking), 53a-136a; Robbery 3rd Degree, 53a-136; Larceny 3rd Degree, 53a-123; Assault 3rd Degree, 53a-61 Criminal Trover 2nd Degree, 53a-126b and Breach of Peace; 53a-181 in addition to several motor vehicle violations.
In Connecticut, the charge of second degree criminal trover involves damage caused to a vehicle used without consent of the owner.
According to BPD, the string of incidents involving Aviles began at approximately 3:21 p.m. on Dec. 4, when he was reportedly the subject of an evading motor vehicle accident on North Main Street/Route 1 near its intersection with North Ivy Street. Traveling from the scene westbound on North Main, Aviles caused a second accident on West Main Street/Route 1 near Commercial Parkway, then left the road and entered the Starbucks parking lot (6 North Main St.), damaging two unoccupied vehicles, and then exiting his personal vehicle after the crash, according to BPD.
Police stated Aviles then ran to an occupied red Nissan Altima on Commercial Parkway, pulled the male operator from the car and stole the vehicle, fleeing onto I-95 southbound. As stated by BPD on the department's Facebook page, "Aviles was then involved in additional carjackings on I-95 prior to fleeing northbound and crashing a different vehicle in the area of I-95 Exit 55. Aviles was taken into custody by Connecticut State Police and held on numerous charges."
Police said no injuries occured in any of the motor vehicle accidents on Route 1 in Branford.