Suspect Leads Fairfield Cops on Christmas Morning Chase

[Editor's Note: Arrest information is supplied by the Fairfield Police Department. It does not indicate convictions.]

Christmas morning dawned early for the Fairfield Police Department when a car thief lead officers on a high-speed chase through town, according to department spokesperson Sgt. Sue Lussier.

Jose Correa, 22, of Bridgeport, allegedly stole a car in Bridgeport as its owner was warming it, keys inside, very early Christmas morning, Lussier said. He first lead Bridgeport police on a chase that ended for them on Stratfield Road, but Fairfield cops observed the vehicle stopped at a red light at the intersection of Fairfield Woods Road and Melville Avenue shortly after 3 a.m., according to the report.

Then, the chase was on again.

Correa, reportedly operating the stolen silver Chevrolet Tracker, fled down Fairfield Road, sometimes driving on the wrong side of the road, Lussier said. The vehicle turned down Black Rock Turnpike, striking a median and flying through a red light, according to the report.

Correa allegedly drove over another median in front of causing landscape damage -- but he continued to drive onto Tunxis Hill Road, Lussier said.

He turned onto Moody Ave and then onto Villa Ave, where police caught up with him, Lussier said. Correa struck a stop sign at Greenfield Street and Villa Ave. Officers were able to contain the vehicle at the old -- but not before Correa allegedly rammed into a police car, Lussier said.

A third officer, arriving for backup, reportedly hit a parked police car as he turned into the car wash, according to the report. No injuries or major damage were reported in relation to either incident, Lussier said.

Correa was detained and charged. Bridgeport police charged him with failure to obey an officer’s signal, reckless driving, and traveling unreasonably fast, Lussier said.

Fairfield police charged Correa with third-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, engaging in pursuit, reckless driving, and operating without a license, Lussier said.

Correa was held in lieu of a $25,000 bond and issued a Jan. 12 court date.