State police arrested an East Lyme man this month after he crashed the car he was driving during a high-speed chase and eluded capture for more than a week, according to police.

Robert Broga Jr., 24, of 44 Cubles Drive, Niantic, was charged April 12 on a warrant in Westbrook with second-degree failure to appear in court, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, engaging police in pursuit, failure to drive right, using a vehicle without its owner's permission, third-degree larceny and second-degree criminal trover.

According to an arrest warrant written by Trooper Joseph DeAngelo of Troop F, the red Acura Legend Broga allegedly was driving first caught DeAngelo's attention around 10:15 p.m. on April 3, when its tires squealed as it turned left onto the state Route 9 north Exit 3 on-ramp in Essex.

DeAngelo said he followed the sedan onto Route 9, but when he activated his emergency lights and siren, the vehicle signaled, sped up and exited the highway via Exit 4, according to the warrant.

While exiting the highway at a "visibly high rate of speed," DeAngelo wrote, the driver of the red car lost control, damaged about 200 feet of guardrail, disabled its headlights and one taillight and lost its front and rear bumpers — license plates included.

The vehicle then continued south on state Route 154, traveling as fast as 80 mph in 30- and 40-mph zones, according to the warrant. DeAngelo, noting the narrow, dark and curvy roadway, said he eventually lost sight of the car.

That same night, DeAngelo wrote, police went to the car owner's home, where the owner said his sister was the primary driver of the vehicle even though it's registered to him. Police determined the owner, who appeared to have been sleeping, wasn't involved in the accident and chase.

Police then visited the residence of the owner's sister. The woman said her son, Broga, had taken the vehicle without her permission. Police concluded that she, too, was not involved in the incident, the warrant said.

She later said in a written statement that Broga, who doesn't live with her but comes to her house often, had crashed his truck the week prior to the accident. According to the application, she said Broga has used heroin in the past and said she "would bet" he is using again.

Reached by phone around 11 p.m. April 3, Broga allegedly told police the "shady people" he hangs out with must have stolen the car, because he hadn't. According to the application, Broga told police he was in Madison near Hammonassett State Park and that he was en route to his mother's residence, where he would speak to them.

By 12:15 a.m. on April 4, DeAngelo wrote, Broga still had not shown up, despite Hammonassett being about 19 minutes away from the house.

Hartford police later located the vehicle in Hartford, according to the application.

Records show Broga, who was held on a $1,500 bond for this case, has 11 pending criminal and motor vehicle cases in New London, Norwich, Middletown and Danielson courts. He also has six convictions between 2011 and 2015 for crimes including possession of narcotics, third-degree larceny and reckless driving.

Broga is scheduled to appear in Middletown Superior Court Tuesday for the charges stemming from this incident.

l.boyle@theday.com