Robber leads cops on partially wrong

Mar 27, 2023

FILE PHOTO — A suspect in the robbery of a State Street liquor store late Wednesday morning was pursued onto Route 40 in North Haven before surrendering, according to Hamden police.

HAMDEN — A man robbed a State Street liquor store before leading cops on a partially wrong-way car chase that ended on Route 40 in North Haven, according to local police.

James Haggerty, 64, most recently of Howard Avenue in New Haven, was charged with first-degree robbery, carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, first-degree reckless endangerment, engaging police in pursuit and several other motor vehicle offenses, Timothy Wydra, acting chief of the Hamden Police Department, said.

Shortly before 11:40 a.m. Wednesday, Hamden police dispatchers were alerted to an armed robbery at Lincoln Liquors, 2644 State St., according to Wydra. The complainant or complainants reported a male suspect armed with a handgun had fled the scene in a dark-colored Nissan Altima, Wydra said.

Hamden officers located the car on Whitney Avenue near the intersection with Glendower Road, according to Wydra. It merged onto Route 15 North, also known as the Wilbur Cross Parkway, before disappearing from view, Wydra said.

Moments later, other Hamden officers spotted the Nissan in the area of State Street in North Haven, according to Wydra. When they attempted to pull the Nissan over, Wydra said, the car struck a police cruiser before continuing on to State Street.

Traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes, the Nissan entered the Route 40 connector, according to Wydra. The car then crossed the center median and began heading toward the I-91 exchange, still going the wrong way but in the opposite direction, Wydra said.

The Nissan eventually came to rest in a "grassy area" off Route 40 after striking two vehicles on the roadway, according to Wydra. Hamden police, North Haven police and state police troopers negotiated with the suspect, who was refusing to exit the car, as they attempted to persuade him to surrender, Wydra said. Within a few minutes, Wydra said, Haggerty emerged and was taken into custody by Hamden police.

Following his arrest, Haggerty was held on a $200,000 bond, according to Wydra. He is scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in Meriden on May 24.

The incident is under investigation by Det. Andrew Lipford, Wydra said.

Det. Lipford can be reached at 203-230-4000.