Family members are coming to the defense of the father of a 4-year-old boy who died in a crash in Branford Sunday after a police chase that started in East Haven.
Investigators said the boy, Jairus Benjamin, was sitting on the lap of his father, 24-year-old Brandon Little, in a stolen car as police pursued the vehicle in East Haven.
Jairus died in a head-on crash in Branford after police called off the high-speed chase Sunday night and his mother, grandmother and entire family are grieving the loss, but also coming to the defense of the little boy’s father.
“He had no knowledge of what was going on and he begged that boy, Tyler, whatever his name is, to let him out and all he did was beg," Sheila Little, the mother of Brandon Little, said.
"My son is not the monster that people are making him out to be," she said. "My son loved his son."
Police said Tyler Carey, 18, of East Haven, was driving, Jairus was on Little’s lap and three other juveniles were also in the car.
Briana Simuel, Jairus’ mother, admits that her son's father made a mistake by not properly securing their son in a child seat, but was also came to Little’s defense and said he was not in control of that vehicle.
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“Everybody still has to realize that was my son's father and he did love Jairus as much," Simuel said.
She said she does not believe Little knew the car was stolen.
“It’s understandable that he could have made smarter decisions or whatever -- with the seat belt with everybody in the car. We all know that," Simuel said. "But at the same token, nobody could do anything about it.”
East Haven police released dashcam video Wednesday that shows an East Haven police officer's pursuit of a white Toyota Corolla. Police called off the chase more than a minute before the fatal crash on Route 1 in Branford.
Jairus’ members said much of the blame should fall on the driver and they question if the crash would have happened if the police pursuit was called off sooner.
State Police are investigating all aspects of the case.
“My son is not perfect," Sheila Little said, "but I'm sure a lot of people here who is watching, their son's not perfect either.”
Carey has been charged with second-degree larceny, reckless endangerment in the first degree, four counts of risk of injury to a minor, failure to have tail lamps, failure to stop for police, misuse of license plate, reckless driving, driving in the improper lane and failure to signal.
Little was determined to have several arrest warrants out of New Haven and West Haven and was arrested and held on those warrants.
Investigators said additional charges could be filed in the case.
