New Haven police arrested two people suspected of assaulting and trying to rob a 33-year-old Bridgeport man after they slammed into an officer's cruiser in a stolen car and led police on a pursuit on Friday.
Tyrone Thomas, 23, and William Miller, 22, both of New Haven, are both facing attempted robbery and larceny charges.
Mario Frazier, the victim, pointed a passing officer to where his attackers ran at the back of a building on Quinnipiac Avenue as they saw the cruiser approach, police said.
He told police that the men confronted him while he was on his way to visit his mom and told him to "run it," slang for demanding his valuables. The men got into a scuffle and Frazier told police that he felt his assailants poke him with something sharp. EMTs treated him for face scrapes and a small side laceration on scene, but he declined further treatment.
When the officer pulled up to the building to investigate, Thomas rammed into his cruiser in a stolen sedan, police said. He took off and led the police officer on a chase, crashing at the Quinnipiac Avenue rotary, according to police. Both men ran from the car.
Police located Thomas and Miller and charged them both with criminal attempt to commit first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, assault on a police officer and multiple motor vehicle violations.
Officers seized a large knife found at the scene as evidence.
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Both Thomas and Miller were taken to the hospital after complaining of injuries due to the crash.
Miller is a convicted felon, police said.
