HARTFORD, Conn. — Three people are in custody after Connecticut State Police said they interfered with a wrong-way driving arrest on Interstate 84 east in Hartford Monday.
According to state police, troopers from Troop H in Hartford were in the area of exit 46 at 10:35 p.m. for a report of a collision. One of the troopers using the exit 44 entrance ramp spotted a silver Jeep Compass going west in the eastbound lanes.
The Jeep was spotted going off the roadway onto a grassy area and turned around to face east, state police said.
After initiating a traffic stop with the Jeep, the trooper determined that its registration had expired. State police said that the driver, Brenda Crespo, 39, of East Hartford, was not able to provide proof of insurance for the vehicle and that an empty bottle resembling an alcohol container was seen inside.
After Brenda was asked to leave the Jeep for a sobriety test, she and the front passenger, Esmeralda Crespo, 32, of Bristol, began interfering with the investigation, according to state police.
Esmeralda Crespo exited the Jeep and refused directions to get back in, state police said. She, along with Brenda Crespo, ignored troopers' instructions and resisted being put in handcuffs by becoming "combative."
Both the driver and front passenger were eventually placed in separate police cruisers. According to state police, troopers were forced to use OC spray after Esmeralda Crespo grasped "onto the vehicle" and refused to move her legs.
State police said that the rear passenger of the Jeep, Jennifer Crespo, 25, of Hartford, then approached them and also began interfering with the investigation, leading to troopers arresting her and placing her inside of an additional state police cruiser.
Brenda Crespo then got out of the cruiser she was in and started interfering with the troopers, state police said.
After all three individuals were secured in their cruisers and brought to Troop H, they were taken to local medical facilities for minor injuries and were later released, state police said.
Brenda Crespo is facing charges of driving the wrong way on a divided highway, failure to renew registration, failure to carry registration/insurance card, interfering/resisting and escape from custody. She was held on a $50,000 bond.
Esmeralda Crespo is facing a charge of interfering/resisting and was held on a $20,000 cash bond.
Jennifer Crespo is facing charges of interfering/resisting and refusal to identify and is also being held on a $20,000 bond.
All three are expected to appear in Hartford Superior Court on April 23.
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