Man Fleeing Scene Hit Cop Car, 3 Other Vehicles: Fairfield Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — A Waterbury man faces a long list of charges after he fled officers who were called to investigate a shoplifter at the Fairfield Home Depot, according to police, who said the man struck a squad car and three other vehicles while on the run.

Avis Quezada, 39, was arrested March 16 and charged in connection with the incident, which occurred last month, police said.

Officers were called about 1:30 p.m. Feb. 10 to the hardware store in the 500 block of Kings Highway Cutoff for a report of a shoplifter in the business, according to police. As the officers arrived, the suspect, later identified as Quezada, loaded over $1,800 in stolen power tools into his vehicle and fled, hitting a police car and two other vehicles in the store parking lot, and then sideswiping a car near Black Rock Turnpike and Kings Highway, police said.

Officers saw Quezada’s vehicle traveling on the wrong side of North Avenue, where it nearly struck oncoming cars, according to police. Officers stopped their pursuit, police said, noting no one was injured in the incident.

Home Depot assisted officers in identifying Quezada, who is charged with attempted assault of a police officer, a felony, as well as fourth-degree larceny, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving, unsafe backing, misuse of registration plates, driving with a suspended license, driving an unregistered vehicle and four counts of evading responsibility, according to police.

Quezada remains in custody on a $50,000 bond and has yet to enter a plea, court records said. His next court date is set for May 11, according to court records.