Police Search for Carjacker Who Attacked Woman in East Hartford Commuter Lot

East Hartford and state police are searching for a person who attacked a woman at an East Hartford commuter lot off Route 15 Thursday morning and stole her car.

It's not the first time police have responded to the the lot in the last few weeks.

The woman was assaulted in the exit 90 commuter parking lot off Route 15 on Main Street in East Hartford near the Econo Lodge, police said. Her attacker stole her black Honda Element, according to police.

The suspect fled in the victim's car and led East Hartford police on a brief pursuit, crashing minutes later and fleeing on foot, state police said. They found the stolen car on McKee Street, police said. State police responded at about 2:30 a.m. The carjacker was nowhere to be found.

State police, a K-9 unit and East Hartford police spent the morning searching the area of Main Street and McKee Street for the suspect. The commuter lot was closed as police investigated. The crime scene tape came down just an hour before the school bus arrived at the lot to pick up students, including East Hartford resident Simone Berry's children. She said she was surprised to hear about the assault there.

"I just started bringing my kids here and it's scary. Very, very, very scary. Oh my goodness," Berry said, adding, "so now that’s really, really scary. Now I have to think about what I'm going to do with my kids. I don’t know if I want to bring them to this commuter lot anymore."

State police said the incident appears isolated and does not pose a threat to the community.

The woman was taken to Manchester Hospital to be treated for injuries. There were no other victims, according to police.

There is no description of the suspect at this time.

News of the assault had other commuters on edge.

"It just stopped me in my tracks just to know that we are here every morning and afternoon," Tiffany Milledge said.

This is not the first time a criminal incident has happened in the lot recently. Last month, police responded to a shooting involving a 26-year-old victim found in a seat of a parked car near the intersection of Silver Lane. That person was transported to the hospital to be treated for several non-life-threatening injuries. The shooter wasn't caught, but state police said they've been patrolling the area.

"Troopers do patrol. They patrol their beat,l their highway, their exit and then, yes, any commuter lot that falls in their patrol area," State Police Trooper Kelly Grant, a spokesperson for the state police, said.

While both incidents remain under investigation, police said it's a good reminder for commuters to be cautious.

"We don't want people to be uncomfortable in that lot. This is looking like an isolated incident, but again, we want people to be aware of their surroundings," police said.

State police are overseeing the investigation because it happened in a state commuter parking lot. East Hartford police are assisting in the investigation.

State police ask anyone with information to call 860-685-8190. Tips will remain confidential.

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