SUV Theft Suspect Claims To Have Coronavirus, Spits on Trooper

PLYMOUTH, MA — A man who fled a stolen SUV after leading State Police on a chase down Route 3 into Plymouth spit on a state trooper and claimed to be positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, according to State Police, then spit and defecated in the cruiser on the way to the Norwell Barracks.

State Police said he also defected in the barracks' booking area in Norwell.

State Police said the man, who is suspected of stealing the SUV with a dog inside it at a pet supply store in Braintree, is believed to have released the dog in Boston before driving back to the South Shore and engaging police in a chase from Kingston into Plymouth before he was captured.

Police said the suspect refused to give his name, but was later identified as Hamza Conner, 29, of Boston. He was charged with motor vehicle offenses, making threats, witness intimidation, refusing to identify himself, vandalism and resisting arrest.

Police said they do not believe the suspect had taken a coronavirus test, was not showing signs of illness and went through regular intake protocols.

Shortly after 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Braintree police alerted area departments that they were searching for a white Ford Explorer stolen from a pet supply parking lot. A dog, belonging to the SUV's owner, was in the vehicle when it was stolen.

About an hour later, a trooper working a detail on Route 3 in Kingston said he was almost struck by a SUV matching the stolen vehicle's description as it sped by him. Another trooper deployed a tire deflation device across Route 3 and the spike strip damaged two of the tires.

Police said the SUV continued southbound on Route 3 until it was involved in a crash on the ramp from Route 3 South to Route 44 westbound. The suspect fled toward Commerce Way in Plymouth.

At about 11:15, police said they found the suspect on Industrial Way in Plymouth. Police said he "became unruly and resistant" and said he was COVID-positive. The suspect then spit on the trooper and spit in the cruiser on the way to the barracks.

A hazardous waste cleanup company was contacted to clean the cruiser and the barracks where police said the suspect defecated.

Police said Wednesday the suspect will be monitored for symptoms and that they will attempt to have him tested for the illness.

The dog from the vehicle was located in Somerville on Tuesday and has been reunited with his family in Quincy. Police said it is believe the suspect drove the truck to Boston after stealing it, left the dog there, and then traveled back to the South Shore.

Conner was scheduled to be arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Wednesday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Information for this article was supplied by the Massachusetts State Police Department. Patch follows a name removal policy for those listed in its published police reports.