Police: Hartford Man Tried to Run Over Store Employee During Shoplifting Attempt

What started out as a simple case of shoplifting quickly escalated for a 22-year old Hartford man after police say he tried to run over a store employee while making a getaway. 

According to Manchester Police, Dequan Muhammad, 22, of 25 Judson St., Hartford, was serving as the "getaway" driver for a shoplifting attempt at Eastern Mountain Sports on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, when that crime soon escalated into a more serious and threatening situation after police say Muhammad tried to run over a store employee. 

Muhammad, who currently has several cases pending in the Connecticut judicial system, including charges for strangulation and assault of an elderly victim, was arrested at his Hartford residence last Friday. He is facing charges of attempt to commit first-degre assault, accessory to first-degree reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit third-degree robbery. 

Muhammad is being held on a $200,000 bond at the Hartford Correctional Center and is due to appear in court on the charges on Oct. 4, 2013.