Watch | ‘Shelton police still investigating after street takeover injures boy; senator weighs in’ (Fox 61)
September 16, 2025
From Fox 61:
Shelton police are still investigating a street takeover incident over the weekend that seriously hurt a juvenile.
The takeover involved several cars driving around in a shopping plaza parking lot at 862 Bridgeport Ave. The boy was hit by one of the cars that left the scene once police arrived.
The aftermath of the street takeover is still visible in the parking lot. Tire marks can be seen on the ground in the shape of circles suggesting cars were doing donuts.
“Frustrated,” said state Sen. Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven). “This is something we continue to talk about and something we are concerned about.”
According to police, they received a call Sunday morning saying someone was hit by a car in the parking lot. When officers got there, those cars were driving away, leaving behind the boy who got hit, who was then taken St. Vincent’s Hospital.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Cicarella, when asked if it shocked him that the juvenile was left at the scene. “Unfortunately, in today’s society, the compassion for someone injured, we see it all over the place, it’s not what it was like years ago. We’ve seen this before, people racing on the highway and someone gets hurt, other person takes off.”
Even if police can locate vehicles involved in takeovers, Cicarella says it may not be enough.
“When we speak to law enforcement, they say the vehicles or the plate behind utilized doesn’t come back to the vehicle that is being used in the takeover, or the car is stolen,” said Cicarella. “We have to give the officers the tools they need to be able to hold people accountable.”
Legislation was passed in June this year that sought to address street takeovers. The law allows for harsher fines, the ability to impound and destroy any vehicles involved in a takeover and suspending licenses for up to two years for someone’s third offense.
Cicarella says this is a necessary first step, but he believes catching the offenders in the act is what will be most effective.
“When we see our officers respond, they take off, they know the officers cannot pursue, so they run,” said Cicarella. “And then, they aren’t held accountable after that. If the officer feels it is safe to do so for the general public, they should be able to pursue. It’s only going to embolden them to commit more serious crimes if there isn’t a deterrent.”
Shelton police say they are working leads after Sunday’s street takeover and will be releasing more information in the near future. If you have any information regarding that takeover, reach out to police.