Cop Jogs Miles Along I‑95 To Snatch Evidence

Branford Police Officer Lue Sobieraj was on the midnight shift when the word came that a driver, stopped for motor vehicle violations, had fled from the cops, taking off onto I‑95.

Police attempted to stop the driver with flashing lights and sirens. The driver, later identified as Leonard Anderson, 31, of 9 Creek Court, allegedly took off, entering I‑95 at Exit 55 at 1:11 a.m. Wednesday.

The officer in the lead car, Philip Raney, led the chase. He and Lt. Michael Carasone, in the second car, followed Anderson as he headed South on I‑95. They watched as Anderson, the lone occupant in the car, began throwing small objects out the driver’s side window, police said.

At that point, Officer Sobieraj, a retired Meriden narcotics officer recently hired by the Branford police department, heard on his car radio that possible evidence was being tossed out the window onto I‑95. He then began to jog down the highway, starting at Exit 55. A police car soon followed him so that he did not get in harm’s way. He jogged roughly 8 miles from Exit 55 to Exit 51, picking up what police now say were packets of crack cocaine and marijuana tossed from the driver’s window.

“He ran along on foot to East Haven,” Lt. Geoffrey Morgan said, recounting the dramatic events that led to the arrest. ​“He is a very dedicated officer.”

Although police continued to try to get Anderson to stop, he ignored them, driving through East Haven and onto side streets in New Haven, police said.

At one point during the pursuit, police said, Anderson drove straight toward one of the police cars, narrowly missing the officer head-on. Anderson then lost control of his car, slamming into the front left fender of the police car as the cops attempted to block him against a bridge abutment near I‑91 in New Haven. Anderson was taken into custody without further incident. A check of court records shows he has a prior criminal record.

According to Police Chief John DeCarlo, Branford has experienced a number of overnight burglaries in the past several months. As a result officers have stepped up proactive patrols in the business district. These measures include stopping suspicious motor vehicles and persons.

Chief DeCarlo said, ​“The officers on the overnight shift are engaged in the reduction of overnight burglaries in our community. That includes stopping suspicious people and enforcing motor vehicle laws, and although there is no evidence that Mr. Anderson is responsible for those crimes, he certainly was engaged in criminal activity.”

Anderson was charged with attempting to assault a police officer, possession of narcotics, interfering with a police officer, recklessly operating a car, engaging an officer in pursuit, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, operating an unregistered vehicle and operating without insurance. He is currently being held on a $75,000.00 bond.