WETHERSFIELD – The driver and passenger of a stolen Mini Cooper were arrested early Wednesday after leading police on a car chase that ended on a dead-end road in Manchester.
The driver, Jarelle Gibbs, 19, was charged with third-degree larceny, engaging in pursuit, reckless driving and driving under suspension.
His passenger, Tarese Scruggs, 19, was charged with third-degree larceny, interfering with an officer and possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana.
The car chase started around 12:11 a.m. on Silas Dean Highway where the Mini Cooper was traveling very slowly, police said.
The vehicle caught the attention of a police officer, who suspected the occupants might be casing the area. A check of the Mini Cooper’s registration showed that it had been reported stolen, police said.
The officer turned on his emergency lights. The Mini Cooper appeared to be complying with the traffic stop, but then sped away, police said.
The pursuit went into Glastonbury and East Hartford. It ended when the Mini Cooper turned onto Wilfred Road in Manchester.
Gibbs and Scruggs ran from the car, but were eventually caught with the help of a police dog. Gibbs had a superficial abrasion on his knee from falling over a guard rail. Scruggs had a superficial abrasion on his leg where the dog bit him.
A paramedic cleaned and bandaged their wounds, police said.
The Mini Cooper was towed to the Wethersfield Police Department and is being held for the Guilford Police Department, police said.