Suspect Steals Police Cruiser and Crashes into a Bristol Diner

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Bristol, Connecticut — On January 12, 2023, at approximately 9:17 a.m., 39-year-old Jimmie Shoemaker-Gonzalez carjacked a 2004 Dodge Durango from Hartford. During the incident, Shoemaker-Gonzalez swung a knife at the owner, cutting him in the forehead. Later that morning, while driving the stolen Durango in Farmington, Shoemaker-Gonzalez struck the blade of a DOT snowplow and lost control of the Durango. The vehicle ended up crashing into a fence and rock wall at the Westwood II Condominium Complex. Shoemaker- Gonzalez abandoned the Durango on the entry drive for the condominiums. At the Westwood II Condominium Complex, Shoemaker-Gonzalez unsuccessfully attempted to steal a Nissan Versa and carjack a Nissan Rogue. He successfully carjacked a Toyota RAV4.

In connection with taking the RAV4, Shoemaker-Gonzalez cut the owner with a knife. Farmington Police notified Bristol Police that the stolen Toyota RAV4 was heading into Bristol at high speed. Bristol dispatch advised units that the vehicle involved in the Farmington incident was a Toyota RAV4 that had been taken in a carjacking, possibly involving a knife. Bristol officers located the Toyota RAV4 at the Mountain Laurel Apartment Complex on Davis Drive, Bristol. At approximately 12:30 p.m., Sergeant Joshua Pratt observed the stolen Toyota RAV4 enter Davis Drive. He attempted to make a felony stop but Shoemaker-Gonzalez sped off. He drove onto the snow-covered grass of the complex, ultimately getting stuck against a guardrail. Shoemaker-Gonzalez exited the Toyota RAV4 and proceeded on foot into the complex’s grounds. Sergeant Pratt moved his cruiser to Quaker Lane, exited, and ran in the direction of Shoemaker-Gonzalez.

Also arriving on scene were Officer Scott McIntyre, Officer Zachary Levine, and Officer Seth Petzing. As officers pursued Shoemaker-Gonzalez, he was able to get around a building and enter Sergeant Pratt’s cruiser that was parked and running on Quaker Lane. When the other officers saw this, they approached the cruiser and ordered Shoemaker-Gonzalez to stop and get out of the cruiser. Officer Petzing also ran to Quaker Lane and saw Shoemaker-Gonzalez in the Bristol cruiser. Shoemaker-Gonzalez backed the cruiser out of its parking space and then turned to move forward. At this time, Officer Petzing was positioned on Quaker Lane south of the cruiser and slightly to its side. Officer Petzing fired four rounds at the cruiser as it drove past him. One round struck the front fender and three rounds struck the driver’s side door.

The rounds penetrated the door striking Shoemaker-Gonzalez in the middle finger of his right hand and both legs. Shoemaker-Gonzalez drove off narrowly missing a school bus and glanced off a building in the apartment complex. He then drove another 2.5 miles before crashing into Palma’s Diner on Stafford Street. At a hospital, testing showed that Shoemaker-Gonzalez had an .102 BAC and had tested positive for a cocaine metabolite, oxycodone and PCP. He was released from the hospital on Jan. 15, 2023, and placed in police custody. Shoemaker-Gonzalez had recently been released from jail and told investigators that he’d started doing drugs again. He claimed he didn’t remember most of the day and didn’t know why he went to Bristol. He also said he didn’t know why an officer shot him, “doubted that the officer had a good explanation” and said that he planned on filing a lawsuit against police.