Branford police came across a stolen vehicle before the owner realized it was gone.
Around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Officer Chris Cope noticed a vehicle parked in the Branford Shell Gas Station at 49 Leetes Island Road. The vehicle did not have any morning dew on the windows. As Cope approached the vehicle, a man, later identified as Esteban Melendez, 18, of New Bedford, Mass. popped up from the driver’s seat and immediately put his hands in the air.
According to police, the man gave Cope what was determined to be a false identity. Cope observed the column under the steering wheel was missing and wires were hanging out. The car was also running with no keys in the ignition.
A second officer, Officer Bryan McGinnis, arrived on scene to assist. Police determined that the car was from West Haven and reached out to the owner. The owner then realized that the car had been stolen from his home.
Melendez was arrested and faces multiple charges including criminal trover, larceny, possession of under half an ounce of marijuana, and interfering with an officer’s investigation. He was held on a $10,000 bond and scheduled to appear in New Haven court Tuesday.
