Crime & Safety

Handcuffed Man Flees Police After Allegedly Stealing Neighbor's Mercedes

Police arrest two in Pine Orchard for vehicle theft and one suspect's mother arrested for interfering with police.

Yesterday morning, Branford Police officers apprehended a Pine Orchard man after fleeing from police while handcuffed as the officer was arresting two others involved in the incident. Two suspects were arrested for the theft of a neighbor’s 2007 Mercedes SUV and one suspect's mother was arrested for interfering with officers. The incident stemmed from the reported theft of the 2007 Mercedes SUV Sunday morning.

Branford Police state that Officer Gary Komoroski investigated the report of a stolen car from the owner of a Yowago Avenue residence just before 9 a.m. yesterday. The owner reported that his 2007 Mercedes was taken some time during the previous 12 hours.

Then, just before 10 a.m., Branford officers were contacted by the New Haven Police Department asking for assistance in locating a vehicle, owned by the Eberg family of 22 Elizabeth St., Branford, which was involved in a recent hit-and-run in New Haven

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When Komoroski arrived at the Eberg home in Pine Orchard, nearby the residence of the owner of the missing Mercedes, he observed two males, later identified as James Eberg, 28, of Branford and Jonathan Gargano, 23, of New Haven, pouring gasoline into a 2007 Mercedes that was similar to the stolen vehicle reported earlier. Komoroski determined that it was, in fact, the same vehicle and arrested Eberg and Gargano, handcuffing Eberg and having them both kneel on the ground until back-up officers could arrive.

Eberg’s mother, Vicki Eberg, 48, of North Haven, then emerged from the home and began to yell and run at Komoroski. As Komoroski began to subdue Vicki Eberg, her son stood up and fled the yard on foot.

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With the assistance of Connecticut State Police Trooper Tory Marsden and his K-9, Titan, Eberg was located a short distance away, still handcuffed, hiding in underbrush.

Gargano was charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit larceny. Vicki Eberg was charged with interfering with a police officer. Both were released on a written promise to appear in New Haven Court on Aug. 30. James Eberg was charged with first-degree larceny, conspiracy and escape from custody and will be arraigned in New Haven court.

Press Release from Branford Police Department


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