Worcester, MA (September 24, 2011) - On Friday, September 23, 2011 at approximately 6:23 PM Officers on patrol observed a green vehicle strike a cross walk signal pole located at Main and Myrtle Streets and continue to drive off. The officer was in the opposite direction of travel and when he conducted a u-turn the suspect vehicle fled the area, the officer lost sight of the vehicle.

At approximately 7:17 PM Worcester Police responded to a hit and run accident call at 121 Highland Street. Arriving officers received information that a green car was traveling east on Highland Street when it veered off and struck a parked vehicle. At the time of the impact a couple was about to enter the parked car. The driver of the parked car was in front of the car with another parked car in front of him. The passenger of the parked vehicle was about to enter the passenger door. When the green car struck the parked car the force of the impact sent the parked car into the operator standing in front of his car, sending him up and onto the hood, the parked car then smashed into the car in front of him. The parked car also struck the foot of the passenger. Both people were shaken up but refused medical attention. The two victims as well as an eye witness stated that the male driver never exited his vehicle, he placed the car in reverse, backed up, tearing off the front bumper, he then drove off heading east on Highland Street.

At approximately 7:36 PM police received a call for a possible robbery at Peoples United Bank located at 967 Grafton Street. The call came in to dispatch that a car had driven completely inside the bank. Arriving officers observed the bank to have extensive damage to the front of the building. Police spoke with a witness who stated that he was in the Stop and Shop parking lot retrieving shopping carriages when a green car drove into the lot at a high rate of speed, nearly striking the man and then drove directly into the front of the bank. The witness stated that he ran inside the bank to help the driver but the driver was already out of the car and over the bank counter looking for cash. The suspect jumped back over the counter and drove the car out of the bank, nearly hitting the same man again as he sped off, heading back into the city.

Responding officers encountered the suspect vehicle, which had extensive front end damage, on Grafton Street by Hamilton Street. The vehicle continued to drive erratically through city streets, refusing to stop for the police and committing numerous traffic offenses. The suspect vehicle continued to drive into the city, at times the suspect had driven up and onto the city sidewalks to evade capture. The suspect vehicle was eventually cornered in an alley way off of Tainter Street. Officers had blocked the suspect in, however the suspect had turned his car and was threatening the officer who had now exited his cruiser. The officer fired at the suspect and struck him in the abdomen.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital and is in critical condition, he had undergone emergency surgery shortly after his arrival. The identity of the suspect has yet to be confirmed. The suspect is under arrest and has been charged with leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident, Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident, Breaking and Entering into a Depository, Driving to Endanger, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (motor vehicle), Driving to Endanger and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (motor vehicle).

The Worcester Police Detective Bureau along with the Crime Scene Unit arrived at the scene. Detectives took several witnesses to the station to be interviewed. The names of the officers involved are not being released at this time as this investigation is still an active case. It is anticipated that more charges will be pending.