Iced tea bottle helps Norwich police solve 2016 burglary

Norwich — A discarded iced tea bottle helped police solve a summer 2016 burglary in which more than $5,000 was stolen from two city companies, according to police.

Police said the incident was reported at the Stanley Israelite Business Park, 33 Wisconsin Ave., on June 9 last year. Police said employees of Prime Electric and Lantern Energy who were reporting to work that morning noticed someone had broken into several company vehicles overnight.

Further investigation revealed three of Prime Electric's vehicles and two of Lantern's were burglarized.

In sum, the perpetrators made off with $5,448 in stolen tools and equipment and caused $2,500 in damage to the vehicles.

Police said officers found a discarded iced tea bottle and a drill belonging to Prime Electric when they canvassed the area. They also obtained surveillance video footage of two people entering the vehicles and removing items.

In December last year, police learned a DNA sample taken from the discarded bottle matched the DNA profile of Eric Melendez, 44, of 333 Edmund Road, Griswold. Police said Melendez's DNA was in the system because he has been incarcerated in Connecticut in the past.

Police obtained a warrant for Melendez's arrest. On Wednesday, police said, he turned himself in.

He was charged with five counts of third-degree burglary, five counts of third-degree criminal mischief and third-degree larceny. Held on a $10,000 bond, he appeared Wednesday in Norwich Superior Court.

Police also hold an active warrant for the arrest of 43-year-old Walter A. Spraski, who they identified as the second suspect in the burglaries. According to police, Spraski is incarcerated at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center on unrelated charges. Police said officers will serve the warrant, which includes the same charges Melendez is facing, at a later date.