Two arrested after crashing vehicle following suspected larceny at CT Stop & Shop

A man and a woman are facing charges after the woman allegedly crashed a motor vehicle as she tried to flee police following a theft at a Stop & Shop in Westport on Friday afternoon.

Officers were dispatched to a Stop & Shop at 1790 Post Road East in Westport around 1:50 p.m. on a report of a larceny in progress, according to the Westport Police Department.

An officer on patrol in the parking lot approached the suspected vehicle to take the two suspects into custody, police said. The man in the driver’s seat immediately complied with the officer’s commands, according to police, and exited the van. The woman on the passenger side allegedly jumped into the driver’s seat and took off, dragging the officer for a short distance, police said.

The vehicle headed west on Post Road East and was quickly spotted by responding officers, police said. The officers attempted a motor vehicle stop, but the woman allegedly continued driving at a high rate of speed. As she was driving through the intersection at Morningside Drive, she struck a van that was crossing the intersection, according to police.

The woman was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital for what appeared to be minor injuries, police said. No other injuries were reported.

Post Road East was closed for a short period of time during the ongoing investigation, according to police.

Police said charges and the suspects’ identities will be released at a later time.