Southington police sees rise in suspects eluding traffic stops
Over the past three years, Southington police have encountered suspects driving away from attempted traffic stops at an alarming rate.
In 2023, there were 24 incidents, 84 in 2024, and 91 in 2025. There have been 15 incidents so far this year, including a case on March 17 when police pulled over a driver for running a red light on Queen Street.
Police said the driver, 37-year-old Giordano Marcone of Wolcott, stopped at a gas station, but sped off when an officer approached the car. He went north and, in minutes, drove to Plainville, where officers there tried to stop him, but he took off again.
When officers found him, police said the driver got out of the car and ran away, but was eventually caught, arrested, and charged with reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, and eight other crimes.
Captain Nathan Boislard, the head of operations for the Southington Police Department, said the initial crime suspects are accused of a range from a moving violation or unregistered car to narcotics or illegal weapons. He said that leading police on a chase adds another charge.
“The engaging in pursuit is a Class A misdemeanor. If it involves a crash or if it causes injury or a subsequent offense, that rises to a felony charge,” he said. “It’s definitely dangerous. We’ve seen innocent passersby, their vehicles, may be struck by the reckless operation.
With technology, good detective work, and help from other police departments, Southington police have so far arrested nine people accused of fleeing in 2023, 14 in 2024, 27 in 2025, and seven this year.
All police agencies follow the state model pursuit policy, meaning they don’t chase a driver unless they are suspected of a felony or a violent crime.
“Just because you have those two things doesn’t necessarily mean it’s still okay to pursue, because you have to take in a vast array of conditions, such as traffic conditions, pedestrian conditions, time of day,” Boislard said.
He said officers are still working to track down the suspects who haven’t been caught.
“We’re going to identify you, and we will bring you to justice,” Boislard said.
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