NORWICH, Conn. – A Connecticut woman was arrested on Thursday after attempting to evade State Police, ramming two cruisers with her vehicle in the process.
Connecticut State Police said that at approximately 3:06 p.m. on Thursday, troopers observed a vehicle traveling eastbound in Bozrah without a front license plate and failing to maintain the proper lane.
When troopers made an inquiry into the vehicle, the registered owner was identified as 33-year-old Electra Chiulli of Old Saybrook. Chiulli was the subject of a previous “Be on the Lookout” from the previous week due to allegedly engaging Old Saybrook officers in a pursuit, and she had an active arrest warrant as a result.
State Police said that troopers followed the vehicle until it stopped at a gas station in Norwich, attempting to box Chiulli in due to her known history of police pursuits. Chiulli refused to exit the vehicle, and due to her active arrest warrant, troopers proceeded to use force to breach the vehicle’s rear window.
In a video shared by Connecticut State Police, Chiulli is seen putting the car in reverse and revving her engine, then accelerating forward and colliding into a State Police cruiser. She then accelerated backward, hitting a gas station fuel pump.
Chiulli once again put the vehicle into drive and accelerated forward, ramming a second cruiser and navigating around other cars in the lot to escape.
Police said that Chiulli sped away without stopping for troopers’ lights and sirens, driving onto I-395 north and leaving on Exit 19. Chiulli reportedly struck a guardrail while attempting to turn left onto Strnad Road in Lisbon, and and proceeded to abandon her car and flee on foot.
Nearby witnesses said that Chiulli was seen running behind a home on Strnad Road. State Police was assisted by the Montville Police K-9 team to locate Chiulli underneath the deck of a residence, where she was arrested without further incident.
In the immediate vicinity where the arrest took place, suspected narcotic bundles and narcotic paraphernalia were found in connection with Chiulli.
Chiulli was brought to a local hospital to be evaluated and remains in State Police custody. No police or civilians were injured during the incident.
Electra Chiulli is charged with:
- Improper Number of Marker Plates
- Failure to Maintain Lane
- Reckless Driving
- Engaging Police in Pursuit
- Evading Responsibility of a Collision
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Criminal Attempt at Assault on a Public Safety Officer
- Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree
- Criminal Mischief in the First Degree (3 Counts)
- Interfering with an Officer (2 Counts)