State police arrest five in Tolland incident
State police arrested five people after they allegedly tried to steal cars in Tolland Saturday in an incident that included a head-on crash with a police car.
According to police they were called at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday on a report of several suspects attempting to steal vehicles in the area of Kozley Road. As Troopers from Troop C were responding to the area, a second 911 call came in from a residence on Williams Way, police said.
The second caller, police said, reported an interrupted burglary and attempted larceny in his garage and stated that one of the suspects pulled a firearm on him when he approached them. Police said the caller provided a plate number that was confirmed to be on a stolen Acura RDX out of Newington.
A short time later, police said that Trooper Kyle Kaelberer saw the Acura traveling south on Old Stafford Road. As the Kaelberer turned around to follow the vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed through the intersection of Old Stafford and Dunn Hill, south onto Tolland Green, police said.
On the Tolland Green, police said, the Acura its travel lane and drove at the Tolland resident trooper head-on as he was traveling north with his lights and sirens activated.
Police said the Acura intentionally struck the cruiser at a high rate of speed and both vehicle’s came to a stop off the roadway in the area of Tolland Green and five suspects in the car fled on foot.
Police said Kaelberer and his K-9 partner Drago chased the driver on foot. During the foot chase, the suspect, identified as Malik I. Price threw a handgun on the ground, police said.
Police said Drago apprehended Price and held him until he was taken into custody. A short time later Drago located a 15 year old juvenile in the woods approximately a quarter mile to the west of the crash scene.
Police said the juvenile was confirmed to have committed a burglary at a house while attempting to avoid being arrested. Three additional suspects, Jashawn Atkinson, 18, and two juvenile males, were located a short time later hiding in a shed at a residence on Torry Road, police said.
Price, 19, was charged with two dozen offenses, including criminal use of a weapon, and held on $500,000 bond. Atkinson was held on 11 charges, including three counts of 3rd-degree burglary and was held on $500,000 bond, police said.
The youthful offender, who police said was 17, was charged with a half dozen offenses, including 3rd-degree burglary. He was held on $500,000 bond, police said.
They were arraigned on Monday in Rockville Superior Court.
Steven Goode can be reached at sgoode@courant.com.
