Vehicle Pursuit Ends in Crash, Arrests

After using a stolen car to ram into two police cars and trying to run away from officers, police arrested Paul Joyce of Bridgeport on charges of larceny, criminal impersonation, interfering with an officer, engaging in police pursuit and reckless operation of a vehicle.

Joyce was seen driving a stolen car on Post Road East Sunday night, which is when Officer Ryan Paulsson of the Westport Police Department put on his lights and sirens, indicating Joyce to pull over.  The suspect vehicle was stolen out of Stratford on June 5.  Joyce, however, refused to stop and continued driving east on Post Road East.  Paulsson followed Joyce onto I-95 northbound via exit 19, off exit 23, then back on I-95 northbound. 

The suspect vehicle then exited at exit 24 where Fairfield officers took over the pursuit. Fairfield pursued the vehicle back on I-95 northbound to exit 28, East Main Street.  Officers from Fairfield, Bridgeport and the State Police pursued the vehicle in Bridgeport.  The suspect vehicle rammed a Bridgeport Police vehicle, then rammed a Fairfield police vehicle at the intersection of Seaview Avenue and Grant Street, where the pursuit ended.  Joyce was transported to Bridgeport Hospital and a female passenger in his car was taken into custody by Westport officers. 

Joyce was charged with Larceny in the third degree, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny, Criminal Impersonation, Interfering with an Officer, Engaging in Police Pursuit, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Signal Turn and Operating without a License.  He was also charged with Escape from Custody.  A Westport officer along with a hospital security guard walked Joyce to the patrol vehicle while leaving Bridgeport Hospital.  At the vehicle, Joyce attempted to run from the officer.  After a brief foot chase, the officer apprehended Joyce a short distance away on Mill Hill Avenue.  Joyce is being held on a $160,000 bond.  There is also an active warrant out of Danbury for Joyce on unrelated charges.

Police also arrested his passenger, Barbara Quirk of Danbury.  Quirk was charged with Larceny in the third degree, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny and Criminal Impersonation. 

Once in custody, it was learned that Quirk had an active warrant for Violation of Probation stemming from a larceny arrest in Stratford.  Quirk was separately charged for that warrant.  She is being held on a $50,000 bond.