COLUMBIA, Conn. — A New Britain man is facing charges after a road rage incident led state police on a pursuit, officials said.
Just after 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Troop E in Montville was notified by a driver who was traveling on I-395 northbound that another driver flashed a gun at him.
The incident happened at Exit 21 in Griswold, and the caller described the vehicle as a BMW X5 SUV. Troopers were able to catch up with the SUV near exit 24. State police officials said the driver, identified as 19-year-old Jadin Coakley, did not respond to the troopers' signals to pull over.
Troopers continued to follow Coakley who engaged them in a pursuit, according to officials. Coakley exited I-395 in Plainfield and the chase continued on state roadways. Officials said Coakley nearly struck another responding trooper from Troop D head-on along Route 14 in Canterbury.
The pursuit went from Plainfield, Canterbury, Scotland, and Windham before finally ending in Columbia.
State police said once the pursuit ended, both Coakley and a passenger jumped out of the SUV and ran away on foot. Coakley was found a short time later and police learned that the SUV had been stolen from Ridgefield. A gun was wound at the scene, and suspected narcotics were also found in the SUV, according to state police.
Coakley was charged with illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, interfering with an officer/resisting arrest, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree threatening (displaying a firearm), second offense of larceny of a motor vehicle, sixth-degree larceny, possession of a controlled substance, engaging in a police pursuit, and reckless driving.
State police said they searched the area extensively to find Coakley's passenger but were unsuccessful. However, officials said they now know who the passenger was and that he was a juvenile.
Officials said there's no ongoing threat to the public at this time and Coakley was held on a $150,000 bond and is set to appear in court Friday.
This is still an active investigation. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Trooper Liam Flanagan at Troop E in Monville at 860-848-6500.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
Brooke Griffin is a reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at bgriffin@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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