A man suspected in a home invasion and arson in Waterbury allegedly struck a state police cruiser last Friday and led troopers on a pursuit from Newtown to Brookfield before he was apprehended following a foot pursuit.
Jalen Rasheed Skeete, 24, of Bridgeport faces charges of reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, evading responsibility, interfering with police and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to Connecticut State Police.
State police said troopers from Troop I in Bethany contacted the Troop A barracks in Southbury around 8:30 a.m. for assistance locating Skeete after he had allegedly struck a state police cruiser in Prospect. He was believed to be driving a black GMC Sierra pickup truck and was a suspect in connection with an incident in Waterbury involving home invasion, larceny and arson allegations, according to state police.
Troopers spotted Skeete in a Sierra with the wrong license plate around 10 a.m. on Route 6 in Newtown, state police said. He allegedly led police on a pursuit onto Route 25 in Brookfield where troopers conducted a “forced stop” of the pickup, according to state police.
Skeete allegedly tried fleeing on foot into a wooded area that led to the Ledgewood Condominiums, state police said. He was apprehended after a brief foot chase.
According to state police, Skeete and two troopers were taken to Danbury Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. Skeete was held on a $500,000 bond and was expected to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Monday.