A New Haven man was captured Thursday morning, August 26, 2021, following a shoplifting incident last month at the Trumbull Home Depot, where he collided with a responding police vehicle during his escape. The subsequent investigation identified the man as Juan Cartagena, age 48, of Springside Avenue, New Haven, who fled from the Trumbull Home Depot shoplifting, and who was also observed stealing merchandise from the Bridgeport Home Depot earlier that same day
On Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at about 8:30 a.m., officers were dispatched the Trumbull Home Depot store for a shoplifting in progress. A witness reported that Cartagena had exited the store pushing a shopping cart with more than $600 worth of stolen merchandise. As officers were arriving, Cartagena entered his vehicle and fled, driving southerly on Monroe Turnpike. While fleeing, Cartagena drove south in the northbound lane into oncoming traffic and struck the front end of one of the responding Trumbull Police cruisers. Cartagena continued to flee from police by traveling southerly on Route 25 at a high rate of speed, leading to his escape. The officer’s vehicle sustained heavy front end damage, but the officer’s actions prevented Cartagena's vehicle from striking an innocent bystander’s vehicle head on.
Trumbull EMS responded to treat and transport the officer to St. Vincent's Hospital for injuries that were sustained in the vehicle crash. He was released from the hospital later that same day.
A witness had initially observed Cartagena pushing a shopping cart with stolen merchandise outside of the Bridgeport Home Depot store, when Cartagena physically shoved an employee who was attempting to stop him. Cartagena then loaded the stolen merchandise into his vehicle and fled. A short time later, the same witness observed Cartagena and his vehicle at the Trumbull Home Depot store. The witness notified the Trumbull Police to report the thefts. Cartagena was positively identified as the suspect in both the Bridgeport and Trumbull Home Depot thefts that occurred that day.
Officers learned that Cartagena was responsible for several previous thefts from various Home Depot Store locations in Connecticut, and was known to be violent at times when committing the crimes. Officers also learned that Cartagena is on parole, and had already failed to report for his mandatory parole appointment the previous week. He has an extensive arrest history for charges that include Larceny, Robbery, Escape from Custody, and Manslaughter.
Trumbull Police Detectives located Cartagena near his New Haven residence and took him into custody following a short foot chase. He was charged with Larceny In the 5th Degree, Assault of a Police Officer, Engaging in Police Pursuit, Evading Responsibility, and Reckless Driving. Cartagena was held on a $60,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.