Groton Town Police arrest bank robbery suspects after pursuit

Groton — Police say after a brief pursuit they arrested two Bridgeport men suspected of robbing Navy Federal Credit Union on Wednesday morning.

Police announced a handful of charges against Javier O. Guzman, 35, and Javier Fontanez-Caldero, 50, following the incident, which began shortly after 9:30 a.m. and came to a conclusion with police finding Fontanez-Caldero in a wooded area in Waterford about a halfhour later.

Police say Fontanez-Caldero entered the credit union at 24 Sailfish Drive and passed a note demanding money before fleeing with an unspecified amount of cash.

Groton Town Police responded to the credit union just before 9:40 a.m. Police said Fontanez-Caldero fled in a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Guzman. Police say they observed the SUV leaving on Gungywamp Road as they approached the scene.

A Groton police officer engaged the SUV in pursuit as it sped along Route 12 and Interstate 95 south. Police said the pair abandoned the vehicle on Roseleah Drive in Waterford and, after a short foot pursuit, Groton officers apprehended Guzman just before 9:50 a.m. without incident.

Officers from Groton, Waterford, New London and state police established a perimeter after Fontanez-Caldero fled into a nearby wooded area. A Groton K-9 team tracked and found him hiding in heavy brush and thickets about 10:06 a.m., police said.

Police say while investigating the scene at Roseleah Drive, officers recovered evidence tied to the credit union, including cash. The investigation remains ongoing.

Fontanez-Caldero and Guzman face charges of second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree conspiracy to commit larceny and interfering with an officer. Fontanez-Caldero faces additional second-degree robbery and first-degree larceny charges, and police also charged Guzman with reckless driving and engaging officers in pursuit.

Each is being held on a $250,000 cash bond, police said. They are expected to appear Thursday in New London Superior Court. and learned he had been at the beach since about 3:15 in the afternoon.

Police charged him with cruelty to animals and having unvaccinated animals.

SEAN D. ELLIOT THE DAY Police escort a bank robbery suspect out of the woods behind the former Toys R Us in Waterford on Wednesday. Police pursued two suspects from the Navy Federal Credit Union on Sailfish Drive in Groton, catching one with the vehicle and the other...