The incident began when a silver BMW Z-4 was left running with keys in the ignition for five to 10 minutes as the owner went inside Cumberland Farms off I-95's Exit 24 in Fairfield at about 5 a.m., police said.
When the owner returned, the car was missing, police said. The owner alerted a state trooper who was in the parking lot at the time, police said.
The trooper reported that a man was walking down the Exit 24 ramp at the time, police said. When the trooper yelled for the man to stop, the suspect hopped into a blue Neon and sped away, police said.
The state trooper gave pursuit and eventually stopped the car on I-95 in Stratford, police said.
State police arrested and charged Derrus Leavitt, 35, of Milford, with several motor vehicle violations, including interfering with an officer and engaging in a pursuit, Fairfield police said.
Leavitt was held on $5,000 bond and will be turned over to Fairfield police to be charged with theft of a motor vehicle.
The missing BMW Z-4 was found on the side of I-95 with the keys still in it, Fairfield police said.
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