NEWS RELEASE
Date: August 17, 2020
Contact: Captain Ronald Smith
Phone: (203) 230-4029
PIO#: 20-105
On July 1, 2020 Hamden Police responded to the area of 2390 State Street on the report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries.
Investigation revealed that 2 motor vehicles were traveling southbound on State Street at a high rate of speed. Witnesses had reported that both vehicles were being operated “erratically” and that they were observed traveling southbound, in the northbound lane.
One of the vehicles, a stolen Toyota Corolla, which was operated by Justin Thompson, struck and killed Garrison Nieves, 21, of Hamden. Nieves had been traveling on a scooter, northbound on State Street when he was struck.
Moments after striking Nieves, Thompson exited the stolen vehicle and entered the second vehicle, which was also reported stolen. He was last observed traveling southbound on State Street.
Officer Nicholas Lovett conducted an extensive investigation, which led to the application of an arrest warrant for Thompson. The court approved the arrest warrant application.
On August 16th members of the Trumbull Police Department located Thompson. He was subsequently turned over to the custody of the Hamden Police Department.
Hamden Police arrested Justin Thompson, 23, of 64 Carroll Street, Naugatuck. He was charged with Misconduct with a Motor Vehicle, Evading Responsibility (Death), Illegal Operation of a Motor Vehicle While Under Suspension and Larceny in the 3rd Degree. Thompson, who was detained on a court-ordered $250,000.00 bond, is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on September 30th.
In addition, Thompson was charged with Violation of Probation. The court-ordered bond was set at $150,000.00.
