West Hartford Police Charge Carjacking Suspect

Hartford police arrested a city man suspected in the carjacking of an elderly man at the Elmwood Community Center earlier this week after a brief foot pursuit on Park Street this morning.

Alexander “Alex” Diaz, 22, of Hartford, was transferred to the custody of West Hartford Police detectives. A tip from a citizen led to Diaz's arrest this morning, according to police.

Diaz was charged with third-degree assault on a victim over 60, second-degree strangulation, second-degree threatening, second-degree larceny, third-degree larceny, second-degree criminal trover, two counts of risk of injury to a minor, three counts of assault on a police officer and third-degree robbery.

He is currently being held on $500,000 bond.

Diaz allegedly took the keys by force from an elderly man at the Elmwood Community Center on Wednesday and drove off in the victim’s 2003 Toyota Camry. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The Camry was subsequently located in Hartford by West Hartford detectives, police said. The West Hartford detectives and Hartford police attempted to stop the car, when it "rammed both police vehicles," a police report states.

After a brief chase, the Camry crashed into a fence near Broad and Lincoln streets, police said.