Road rage incident leads to police pursuit across Eastern CT

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GRISWOLD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Connecticut State Police arrest a New Britain man in connection with a road rage incident in Griswold that led to a multi-town pursuit in Eastern Connecticut.

Troop E-Montville received a 911 call from a driver on I-395 northbound by exit 21 in Griswold reporting a road rage incident in which the driver of a BMW X5 SUV displayed a gun.

The driver was later identified as Jarid Coakley, 19, of New Britain.

Troopers were able to locate the suspect vehicle near exit 24, however it became apparent that Coakley was not going to stop for the troopers.

Coakley allegedly drove the BMW X5 exited I-395 in Plainfield, advancing the pursuit onto state roadways.

During the chase, troopers say Coakley nearly struck another responding trooper from Troop D head-on along Route 14 in Canterbury.

The pursuit began to travel in a westerly direction from Plainfield, Canterbury, Scotland, Windham and finally ended in Columbia.

Once the vehicle pursuit had ended in Columbia, both Coakley and a juvenile passenger fled the vehicle on foot.

State Police found Coakley as they searched the Columbia-Andover town line area.

The handgun believed to have been used in the road rage incident was found. Suspected narcotics were also found in the BMW, which turned out to have been stolen out of Ridgefield.

Troopers are still looking for the juvenile passenger but say there's no threat to the public.

Coakley is charged with illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, interference with an officer/resisting, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, first-degree threatening while armed and displaying a firearm, second-offense larceny of a motor vehicle, sixth-degree larceny, possession of a controlled substance, and engaging police in pursuit.