Man destroys friend's pool with car then disrupts rail services

Authorities arrested a 24-year-old West Haven man on Thursday night on charges he allegedly rammed a car into a friend's above-ground pool before hiding under the platform of the Southport Metro-North railroad tracks for a half hour, stalling service.

Matthew Miranda, of 523 First Ave., West Haven, was visiting a friend in Fairfield when he took her car without permission, police said. When she tried to stop him from taking the car, police said Miranda physically "threw" the woman to the ground "several times." She sustained minor injuries to her elbows and forearms, but declined medical attention.



After getting behind the wheel, police said Miranda drove his friend's car over the lawn and into an above-ground pool, knocking it down. The car, lawn and pool were damaged as a result, police said. When officers arrived, Miranda allegedly fled and hid beneath the platform at the Southport railroad station for nearly a half hour. Train service was temporarily stopped in an effort to prevent Miranda from being run over.

When trains began running again, police said Miranda emerged from beneath the platform and was arrested. Police charged Miranda with third-degree assault, second-degree criminal mischief, breach of peace and using a motor vehicle without permission, among other motor vehicle-related crimes. He was held in lieu of $500 bail and is expected to appear in court on July 25.