A report of cars racing on Glover Avenue late Wednesday night led to an officer stopping a vehicle better suited for stock car racing than driving on a public street, police said.
Officer Russell Oullette was dispatched to Glover Avenue at 11:23 p.m. on the report. Glover Avenue, which runs parallel with the Route 7 connector, is frequently used at night for illegal car races.
When Oullette got into the area, he found cars blocking traffic from entering the Route 7 connector, which starts at Grist Mill Road. He reported there were about ten cars blocking the road, and when he activated his emegency lights and siren, about six cars took off at high speed going southbound on the connector.
The car's tires were spinning, creating "a blinding white smoke that filled the air," Oullette reported.
He began pursuing the vehicles and followed one off exit 2, which empties onto New Canaan Avenue.
Oullette said the car, a black 1999 Honda Civic, did not have a front passenger seat or rear seat, but there was a male passenger sitting on the floor. He said the entire headlight assembly was removed and replaced by a steel pipe feeding air to the engine's turbocharger.
He said it was common practice to lighten cars used for racing by removing the seats.
He charged the driver, Daniel Angeles, 18, of Orlando, FL, with reckless driving and failing to have headlights. Angeles was held on $3,500 bond and given a court date of June 14.
His passenger, David Palonia, 18, who was listed as having addresses in Florida and Stamford, was charged with failure to wear a seatbelt, which is a fine of $92. He was given a court date of June 15.
