Two NY Men Arrested After Stolen Durango Chase in West Haven
Police found catalytic converter theft tools including an electric Sawzall and vehicle jack inside the stolen 2019 Dodge Durango
PublishedMarch 19, 2026
State police, along with the Bridgeport Police Department, detained both occupants at the crash scene
West Haven Police Arrest Two After Early-Morning Car Chase Ends in I-95 Crash
Two New York men suspected of catalytic converter theft were arrested early Friday after allegedly fleeing West Haven police in a stolen vehicle before crashing on Interstate 95 in Bridgeport.
Jancarlos Castillo, 25, of New York City, and Jeffrey Jimenez, 24, of the Bronx, were taken into custody shortly after midnight on March 13, 2026, following a pursuit that ended with the stolen vehicle crashing near Exit 25 on I-95 southbound.
How the Arrest Unfolded
West Haven police responded around 12:41 a.m. to the area of York Street and Campbell Avenue for a reported motor vehicle tampering complaint. Officers located the suspects inside a stolen 2019 white Dodge Durango that had been reported stolen out of Teaneck Township, New Jersey.
The suspects fled in the Durango, traveling southbound onto Interstate 95. West Haven police terminated the pursuit, and Connecticut State Police later located the vehicle after it crashed in the area of Exit 25 on I-95 southbound. State police, along with the Bridgeport Police Department, detained both occupants at the crash scene. West Haven police officers responded to take the men into custody.
Theft Tools Found in Vehicle
Officers observed in plain view inside the stolen Durango several items commonly associated with catalytic converter thefts:
A vehicle jack
An electric Sawzall
Multiple Sawzall blades
Catalytic converters are targeted by thieves because they contain precious metals including palladium, platinum, and rhodium. A vehicle jack and cordless reciprocating saw are the standard tools used to cut converters from a vehicle's undercarriage in minutes. Replacement catalytic converters can cost vehicle owners thousands of dollars.
Charges
Castillo faces the following charges:
Larceny of a motor vehicle
Conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary
Possession of burglary tools
Reckless endangerment
Interfering with an officer
Engaging police in pursuit
Reckless driving
Illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension
Improper use of a marker plate
Jimenez faces:
Criminal attempt to commit third-degree burglary
Conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary
Larceny of a motor vehicle
Possession of burglary tools
Catalytic Converter Theft in Connecticut
Catalytic converter theft has been a persistent problem in Connecticut and across the nation. Connecticut passed legislation in 2022 requiring scrap metal dealers to record identifying information from anyone selling catalytic converters and prohibiting cash transactions for such sales. Despite the law, thefts have continued in New Haven County and statewide.
West Haven has been among the communities targeted in the broader pattern, and local police have worked with state and neighboring agencies to intercept theft crews that often cross municipal lines.
