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Police say carjacker led them on chase that ended with crash
By Dylan McGuinness
Globe Correspondent

A man was ordered held on $500,000 bail Tuesday following a dramatic chase that began when he allegedly stole a woman’s car from a Plymouth Stop & Shop and ended some 30 miles away as he lost control and crashed into a Taunton home, police said.

Anthony Loto, 26, of East Bridgewater, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at Plymouth District Court to charges of carjacking, unarmed robbery, assault and battery on a person over 60 years old, failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a vehicle, and resisting arrest.

Loto allegedly approached the woman in her car at about 1:45 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of the State Road grocery store and told her that her husband needed her inside, Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said in a statement.

The woman got out of the car, and Loto allegedly grabbed her keys, pushed her aside, and drove off. He traveled north on Route 3 and eventually west on Route 44 toward Middleborough, police said.

The woman was not hurt.

Middleborough officers and State Police joined Plymouth authorities in the pursuit as Loto continued on Route 44, police said. They tried unsuccessfully to use tire-deflation sticks to puncture the car’s tires and end the chase.

Loto ultimately lost control of the vehicle and struck a home on the corner of Seekal and South Precinct streets in Taunton, police said. He was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Plymouth and treated for minor injuries before he was charged.

Loto had several previous arrests for breaking and entering, including one in 2013, a spokeswoman for Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said. He is due back in court on Aug. 25.

Police said Loto could face more charges related to the chase as it passed through other communities.

Dylan McGuinness can be reached at dylan.mcguinness@globe.com.