WETHERSFIELD - Two New Haven men were arrested last Wednesday, July 10, after engaging in a police pursuit from Wethersfield to Manchester in a stolen vehicle.

       A Wethersfield police officer observed Jarelle Gibbs, of 4 Little St., New Haven, and Tarese Scruggs, of 880 Elm St., New Haven, both 19, traveling in a blue Mini Cooper very slowly northbound on the Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, police said. The officer thought the car could be casing the area and checked the car’s registration to find it was listed as a stolen vehicle.

       The vehicle turned east onto Route 3 and continued toward the Putnam Bridge, at which point the officer turned on his emergency lights and tried to stop the vehicle, police said. The vehicle slowed down, appearing as if it was going to stop, then accelerated and fled from the officer.

       The officer pursued the vehicle through Glastonbury and East Hartford, with the vehicle eventually stopping on Wilfred Road in Manchester, a dead end road. Gibbs and Scruggs jumped from the car and ran from the officer, who chased the suspects along with the assistance of a K-9 officer from the East Hartford Police Department, police said. The K-9 caught Scruggs by biting him in the leg, then the K-9 tackled Gibbs as he fell over a guard rail. Both Gibbs and Scruggs were treated by ambulance personnel for superficial abrasions, though neither required immediate medical attention, police said.

       Gibbs, identified as the operator of the vehicle, was charged with third-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, engaging in police pursuit, reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle under suspension, police said. He was held on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court again Aug. 9. Gibbs was also held on another $75,000 bond for an active rearrest warrant for first-degree failure to appear, police said.

       Scruggs, the passenger in the vehicle, was charged with third-degree larceny, interfering with an officer and possession of less than 1/2 oz. marijuana, police said. He was held on $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court again Aug. 7. Scruggs was held on another $50,000 bond for an active rearrest warrant for violation of probation. He also had an original warrant from the New Haven Police Department for a domestic violence-related third-degree assault charge, though the warrant was not served, police said.