A carjacking in Bristol this morning led to a high speed car chase before the suspect was arrested.
Shawn M. Smith, 24, of Naugatuck, was arrested and charged with criminal attempt to carjack, breach of peace in the second degree, two counts of assault in the third degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, unreasonable speed, a stop sign violation, making an improper turn, and evading responsibility for a motor vehicle accident.
The situation began when Wolcott police alerted the Bristol Police Department about the possible carjacking, and Bristol police started chasing the stolen vehicle, a black Nissan Rogue, heading north on North Main Street. The car left the roadway near Curtis Street and crashed into shrubbery. Smith then fled on foot through backyards in the area.
Smith then tried to carjack a van as a local resident was moving backwards out of his driveway. The driver of the van and his wife successfully fought off Smith while the vehicle was in motion. The wife reached inside the car, hitting the brake pedal with her hand to stop herself from being run over.
The husband and wife had minor injuries, but they refused medical attention.
Smith is being held on $2,500 bond for the motor vehicle charges and $100,000 surety bond for the criminal charges.