Two arrested in armed Essex break-in

Two men were arrested Tuesday after allegedly breaking into an apartment in Essex while one of them was armed with a knife, state police said.

Troopers received a 911 call just before 7:50 p.m. reporting an “active disturbance” at a residence on Main Street, according to Connecticut State Police.

Officers with the Essex Police Department and troopers responded to the apartment and spoke to two victims who said they were not injured, state police said. The victims alleged that two men who were known to them “forced entry” into the apartment while one of them had a knife.

The two men allegedly fled the apartment on foot after one of the victims was able to get control of the knife, according to state police. The weapon was seized as evidence.

State police said the victims told investigators they were involved in a dispute with the two men “at another location” prior to the incident at the Main Street apartment. They identified the suspects as 18-year-old Jacob Olsen and Jaidan Amendola, 18, both of Essex, according to state police.

Authorities used a state police K-9 team to search the area and could not locate either suspect

Just before 10:20 p.m., authorities were headed to Olsen’s last known address when they spotted a vehicle associated with one of his family members. The vehicle was parked at a gas station on Main Street in Centerbrook.

Authorities approached the vehicle and found Olsen and Amendola crouched down inside, attempting to hide, state police said. They were both detained at that point.

While speaking with police about the incident at the apartment, Olsen reportedly acknowledged that he had “kicked” the door to the residence and that he displayed a knife, state police said. He also reportedly conceded that one of the victims was able to take the weapon from him, according to state police

State police said Amendola reportedly told investigators that he had entered into the victims’ residence but declined to say anything else.

Both men were arrested.

Olsen faces charges of home invasion, first-degree burglary, first-degree threatening, disorderly conduct and interfering with a police investigation.

Amendola has been charged with first-degree burglary, disorderly conduct and interfering with a police investigation.

Both men were held on $75,000 bond and were expected to be arraigned in Middletown Superior Court on Wednesday.