January 5, 2025
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chief Erik Costa, 860-638-4100

News Release - Alleged Carjacking on Rt 17 Connector

On January 5, 2025 at approximately 1:27am, Middletown Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Crescent Street at Main Street for the report of a “carjacking”. The complainant indicated he had just left Café on Main Street, located at 288 South Main Street, and turned onto the Route 17 Connector when two males suddenly appeared in his back seat and assaulted him. The suspects forced the complainant from the car and drove away in his 2021 Volkswagen Jetta. After being forced from the car, the complainant walked to Crescent Street to call the police. The suspects were only described as black males wearing ski masks with one male wearing a “puffy” coat and the other wearing black Nike brand shoes.  

The complainant was able to track the VW and reported it to be in the same area where it was stolen. A short time later, officers located the VW down an embankment on the east side of the Route 17 Connector.  It appeared that the operator of the Jetta crashed through the guard rail while attempting to merge on Route 9 North at a high rate of speed.  A search of the wooded area where the vehicle was located had negative results.

This incident occurred on the Route 17 Connector so the investigation was subsequently turned over to the Connecticut State Police.