Jan. 12, 2023 Bristol police officers were investigating a carjacking when a cruiser was stolen, leading to a chase that ended when the vehicle drove into a restaurant.
By Mike Mavredakis Source Hartford Courant Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A stolen police cruiser crashed into the front entrance of Palma’s Diner on Stafford Avenue in Bristol during a police pursuit on Thursday.
The Bristol Police Department was investigating a carjacking that occurred in Farmington after 12:15 p.m. Thursday when a Bristol police cruiser was stolen from the area of Jerome Avenue and Davis Drive, according to police.
A pursuit with the vehicle ensued and concluded when the suspect crashed the stolen cruiser into Palma’s Restaurant, police said.
The suspect was taken into custody, Bristol police said.
Nearby witnesses heard an out-of-control vehicle approach the corner of Stafford Avenue and Brook Street before hearing a loud crash as the cruiser hit the building.
Palma’s Diner said everyone inside at the time of the crash was safe “despite being shaken up by all of this,” in a Facebook post Thursday.
“At the moment we don’t know when all of this will be resolved or when we will reopen,” the diner said in a post. “Since everyone is safe this is of little concern to us.”
Bristol Public Schools placed Bristol Eastern High School, Stafford Elementary School and Edgewood Elementary School into a secure school procedure as a precaution due to police activity in the area. The secure school was then lifted and school activities were resumed, according to Deputy Superintendent Michael Dietter in a message to parents.
There is no active threat to the community, Bristol police said. There was no word on injuries at this time.