A man accused of stealing a safe containing $53,000 in cash and collectable coins from Goldberg Karate Studio in Wolcott was arrested after a police chase last night and appeared in court on Friday.
Wolcott police identified Daniel Deleo, 25, of Terryville, as a suspect in the theft of the safe and began searching for him.
Police said he was thought to be traveling with his wife Cynthia Deleo, 24.
Their vehicle, a 2004 Chevrolet Impala, was found abandoned in Newington. The license plates, Connecticut registration 932ZBH, were removed and police think the couple is using another car with those plates.
When police issued a news release, they said the couple has ties to Newington and Terryville and family in Ohio and Maryland, police said.
At 10 p.m. on Thursday, police received information that the couple was heading to a home on Allentown Road in Plymouth, just over the Wolcott line to get gas money, so Wolcott police went to apprehend Deleo.
They saw Cynthia at the house and were speaking with her when a Daniel drove up in a gray car, police said, so they turned on the cruiser's lights and sirens to try and stop him.
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Deleo, who had recently been released from prison on a third-degree burglary charge, fled on Route 72 in Bristol, then east on Interstate 84, where the Connecticut State Police took over the attempt to stop. Deleo, police said.
The chase continued onto Interstate 91 north, then onto Interstate 291 east to exit 5, where Deleo finally stopped.
State police charged Deleo with reckless endangerment, criminal attempt at assault on an officer, interference with a police officer, weapon in a motor vehicle, reckless driving and failure to bring a vehicle to a stop when signaled.
He was released on a $75,000 non-surety bond to Wolcott Police, then transported back to Wolcott police for processing on stated charges.
Daniel Deleo appeared in court on Friday and officials said he has a criminal history dating back to 2006 that includes burglary and larceny charges, owes nine years of probation and has three pending matters.
Bond was set at $20,000 for motor vehicle charges, plus $200 for burglary. He is due in court next on Oct. 30.
Cynthia Deleo was also charged with hindering prosecution and bond was set at $25,000. She has past convictions for burglary and narcotics, officials said. She still owes three years of probation and they were having trouble trying to reach her in the past few weeks.
Cynthia Deleo is next due in court on Oct. 30.
Both have self-reported substance and mental health issues, officials said.
