SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — A pursuit involving a stolen vehicle ended early Thursday with three Massachusetts teens in police custody, including two found locked inside a shed — a discovery made after officers noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the structure, according to South Windsor police.
The incident began when officers were alerted that a stolen vehicle was heading south from East Windsor on Route 5.
When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver made a U-turn. Officers deployed stop sticks to deflate the tires and later located the abandoned vehicle near Strong Road and West Road.
Authorities used multiple resources to track down the suspects, including a state police K-9 and a drone provided by Manchester police.
One of the three suspects was located attempting to enter a rideshare vehicle in the area, according to police.
Soon after, officers detected the smell of marijuana coming from a shed on the back of a property along West Road.
Investigating further, police found the other two suspects locked inside. Investigators believe the suspect who left to find the rideshare vehicle inadvertently locked the others in the shed during the escape attempt.
All three individuals — 18 years old and from Springfield, Greenfield, and Gardner, Massachusetts — were taken into custody. Each faces multiple charges, including engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with an officer/resisting, third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespass, conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, and second-degree criminal trover.