A teenager in South Windsor, Connecticut, is facing multiple charges after he allegedly stole a vehicle and fled from responding officers. He is also accused of stealing a wallet and using a credit card found inside it to order an Uber so he and his accomplices could escape.
According to a previous report made by WFSB, the incident occurred back on May 1, 2025. The South Windsor Police Department (SWPD) was alerted at the time that a stolen vehicle had entered the town through Route 5, coming from East Windsor.
SWPD responded to Route 5 and came across the vehicle they were informed about. Inside, there were three teenagers, as per the SWPD: Jovanie Candelaria, Teyvaun Williams-Santiago, and, most importantly, Zachary Hardy.
A traffic stop was attempted by a SWPD officer. The driver, however, allegedly failed to comply and pulled a U-turn on Route 5, heading back north to East Windsor.
Deflated Tires
The SWPD officer continued to pursue the fleeing vehicle. At one point during the chase, other officers managed to deploy stop sticks to deflate the car’s tires. These were successful.
The vehicle didn’t immediately stop, but with flat tires, what appeared to be a potentially lengthy pursuit was cut short. The vehicle was then found abandoned near Strong and West roads.
SWPD officers were assisted by a K-9 unit from the Connecticut State Police and a drone from the Manchester Police Department. Soon, the suspects were tracked down and found.
Uber Ride, Interrupted
With eyes on the ground and sky, officers eventually came across Candelaria. At the time, he was trying to get into an Uber.
In a recent SWPD press release, police detailed that, later in the day, they received a report of a car burglary. Allegedly, someone had taken a wallet from a vehicle.
Hardy is accused of pulling out a credit card from the wallet and using it to attempt to order an Uber. According to the SWPD, he was trying to make use of the app to escape from the authorities.
Initial Arrest, Turning Himself In
Police officers later found Hardy and Williams-Santiago in a shed on West Road. Apparently, it was Candelaria’s attempt to get into the Uber that led police officers to their hiding place. Additionally, police said that the smell of marijuana is what alerted them to the teenagers.
All three were charged with engaging police in a pursuit, interfering or ressiting with an officer, third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespass, conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, and second-degree criminal trover. Candelaria and Williams-Santaigo were held on a $10,000 suret bond, but Hardy was held on a $20,000 one.
More than a year later, on Wednesday, June 24, Hardy turned himself in. Not only was he arrested for the car burglary charge, but also for failure to appear. He was held on a $65,000 bond and appeared in Manchester Superior Court on Thursday, June 25.