Police: Pair Fleeing Arrest At Westfarms Crashes Car

Two men were arrested Thursday after attempting to elude arrest, one of them violently, police said.

According to police, Juan Antonio Cartagena, 26, and Alexander Barber, 29, both of Hartford, were observed shoplifting at Lord & Taylor at Westfarms mall. Westfarms security officers tried to detain them, but the pair got into a car with two other people and sped across the parking lot, crashing into a light pole, police said. After the crash, three men fled on foot, while an injured woman was left behind in the vehicle.

A Westfarms mall officer chased Barber to the back of a house in West Hartford, where Barber reportedly offered him $50 to let him go. When the officer continued to chase him, Barber turned, pulled a switchblade knife, attempted to slash the officer, then punched him in the face, police said. He continued to run to the back of Toys R Us in West Hartford, where a Farmington police officer arrested him and confiscated the knife. Barber was taken to UConn Health Center for facial injuries sustained during the incident, released, and was then held, with bail set at $50,000. He is charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, fifth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 11.

Cartagena was arrested by a Newington police officer on Fenn Road and was also being held, with bail set at $50,000. He is charged with fifth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 15.

According to police, the pair identified the third suspect, whose car Barber and Cartagena jumped into. Police reportedly found crack cocaine in the vehicle. Farmington police are working to get a warrant for his arrest and additional charges are expected.

The injured woman left in the vehicle was taken to John Dempsey Hospital and was not charged with any crime.

One Westfarms mall officer suffered minor injuries.