Hartford Police Chase Leads to Arrest of Convicted Felons

One suspect was convicted of murder in 2001 and the other has been previously arrested 35 times in Hartford.

Two Hartford felons, one of whom has been convicted of murder, were arrested around midnight Saturday after the car they were riding in led police on a chase and officers found drugs and a handgun, authorities said.

Shermane Rose and James Canidate were arrested early Tuesday morning and face firearms and narcotics charges.

Both have extensive criminal records. Rose, 34, of Capen Street, was convicted of murder, kidnapping and robbery in 2001. Canidate, 37, of Cornell Street, was previously arrested 35 times in Hartford, beginning in 1993, according to police.

Police said the car they were riding in, a blue minivan with New York license plates, was driving recklessly in the area of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue in Hartford around midnight Feb. 1.

When officers tried to stop the car near Asylum Street, it turned west and drove through a red light at the intersection of Trumbull Street.

Police pulled them over on Asylum Street, but the front passenger rummaged around in the side door pocket and the car sped off again.

They led police onto Pulaski Circle and Interstate 91 southbound, where officers used stop sticks to deflate the van’s tires, authorities said.

Police said the minivan took exit 27 onto Airport Road and lost control on Brown Street, where it struck two other cars, one that was occupied and one that was parked.

Rose and Canidate received non-life threatening injuries and were arrested at the scene. No one else was hurt. Police are still searching for the driver, who got away.

Inside the car, officers found a Luger Hi-Point 9mm pistol with a chambered round and 10-round magazine, along with several grams of crack cocaine.

Both Rose and Canidate are charged with carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of narcotics and possession with intent to sell.

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