Manhunt After Chase Nets Three of Five

Fairfield Police officers captured three of five suspects in a manhunt Monday morning around the area of Fairfield Beach after an officer spotted a stolen car by exit 22 that was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Bridgeport and that police later learned was stolen at gunpoint in a carjacking in Norwalk.

Police Lt. Thomas Mrozek said a 16-year-old driver and two 17-year-old passengers were in custody and that two other passengers remained at large about 7:15 a.m. Monday.

"Two got away, but we know who they are," said Police Lt. James Perez.

The 17-year-olds were found hiding in a bathroom at South Benson Marina; the 16-year-old driver was captured by the corner of Old Field Road and Pratt Street. They did not break into any homes in an effort to elude capture, police said.

The 16-year-old had crashed the stolen car, believed to be a Ford Focus, on Craig Court, taking out 17 feet of a stone wall, before the five fled from the car. Just prior to the crash, the 16-year-old driver attempted to run down an officer on South Benson Road and a police officer fired two defensive shots; one hit the front hood of the car. No one was injured, police said.

Police Chief Gary MacNamara said the officer who fired his weapon believed his life was in danger and that the other officers "showed great restraint" in not firing also. "The fact that our officer took great action to protect his own life, we're thankful he was not injured," MacNamara said, adding that gunfire was "limited to the officer who felt his life was threatened by a 3,000-pound bullet coming at him."

"We're thankful the officer and the females in the car were not injured. These calls are unpredictable," MacNamara said.

Police Sgt. Sue Lussier said the stolen car had come to a dead-end by the Jennings Beach Skate Park and had turned around, traveling at a high rate of speed toward officers. "It turned northbound, traveled at a high rate of speed directly at the officers exiting their patrol vehicles. One officer was nearly pinned between his patrol car and what was described as an out-of-control suspect vehicle as he was exiting. He fired two rounds from his duty weapon to protect himself," she said.

The suspects fled in the stolen car onto Craig Court where the car struck the stone wall, completely disabling the vehicle, and the driver and occupants fled on foot, Lussier said.

Bridgeport Police, State Police and Metropolitan Transit Authority Police were all involved in the manhunt and a K-9 also was used, police said.

The names of the arrested teenagers were not released by police because they are considered to be a juvenile and youthful offenders under state law.

The 17-year-olds, both from Bridgeport, were charged with third-degree larceny and interfering with an officer. They were taken to Bridgeport Superior Court Monday morning, police said.

The 16-year-old, also from Bridgeport, was charged with third-degree larceny, three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, one count of criminal attempt at first-degree assault, interfering with an officer, engaging police in pursuit and operating without a license, police said. He was remanded to the custody of a juvenile detention center in Bridgeport, police said.

"We're looking for the other two. It's still under investigation," Mrozek said.