SOUTHINGTON — A man was arrested and charged with multiple offenses after attempting to flee from police in a stolen vehicle at a local rest area, the Southington Police Department reported.
The incident occurred on Nov. 12, when the Special Investigations Unit, aided by the Patrol Division, received a tip about a stolen silver Toyota Corolla heading towards Southington from Cheshire.
The vehicle, with an out-of-state license plate, was soon spotted parked at the Southington Rest Area off Interstate 84 Westbound.
As officers approached the car, the driver, later identified as Michael Anastasio, 36, of East Haven, tried to escape by driving off, crashing into police vehicles in the process.
However, the car was quickly immobilized, and Anastasio, along with a passenger, was arrested without further incident.
Anastasio faces charges including second-offense larceny of a motor vehicle, third-degree larceny, first-degree criminal trover, possession of burglar tools, and interfering with an officer.
He was held on a $50,000 bond and appeared in New Britain Superior Court on Nov. 13.
According to Captain James Armack of the Administrative Services, no injuries were reported during the arrest, and damage to the vehicles involved was minimal.
The Southington Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stolen vehicle.
