BRIDGEPORT – A tow truck driver was arrested after he intentionally rammed a Connecticut State Police cruiser during a highway pursuit Saturday.
New York police contacted Troop G patrols at 2:30 a.m. and alerted them to a car chase about to cross state lines on Interstate 95 northbound. The White Plains Police Department were in pursuit of a Bob’s Towing flatbed tow truck for its alleged involvement in a hit and run accident involving a pedestrian.
When the chase neared the Connecticut-New York border, the White Plains officers pulled off of the highway and Connecticut troopers waited with stop sticks deployed. As the pursuit crossed the line, the truck driver managed to avoid blowing out his tires and began to cruise further north.
Officers pursued the driver as he exited and re-entered the highway multiple times before crossing to the southbound lanes. Additional stop sticks were deployed along the route, eventually destroying the tow truck’s front tires one-by-one.
Instead of giving up, the suspect pushed on with his escape attempt and continued driving back towards New York.
The chase eventually approached Greenwich, where the truck driver came upon parked police cruisers. The troopers were stationed outside of their vehicles, preparing to deploy more stop sticks.
Police say the truck then intentionally swerved and crashed into one of the parked cruisers, bursting into flames.
No police officers were injured as a result of the crash, however both the cruiser and the truck sustained heavy damage.
Jheison Callecastro, 21, of New York was immediately taken into custody and processed at the Troop G barracks in Bridgeport. He faces numerous charges which include attempted assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment, driving while under the influence and operating without a license.
Callecastro is being held on $150,000 bond pending an upcoming court appearance.
