New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Police: Armed suspects caught in New Haven home invasion.
NEW HAVEN — Two men face charges after officers caught them during a home invasion in the Fair Haven neighborhood early Thursday morning, according to police.
Anthony Manuel NievesColon, 18, of Perth Amboy, N.J., was charged with home invasion, conspiracy to commit home invasion, carrying a pistol without a permit, altering or removing a serial number on a firearm, possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, first-degree reckless endangerment and interfering with an officer.
Jonathan Alvarez, 31, of New Haven, was charged with home invasion, conspiracy to commit home invasion, first-degree reckless endangerment and interfering with an officer. He was also charged with fugitive from justice in connection with a Vermont parole violation arrest warrant, according to Capt. Anthony Duff.
Duff said it was just after 12:30 a.m. Thursday when officers were dispatched for a reported burglary inprogress at a Dover Street home between Atwater Street and Park Place.
When officers arrived, they found the suspects were still inside with residents.
“Officers made entry into the building and in a living room, confronted a suspect holding a handgun, a second suspect armed with a knife and a third suspect as he assaulted a resident,” Duff said.
Duff said Nieves-Colon — armed with a gun and wearing a black ski mask — retreated toward the kitchen, where he dropped the gun and started to physically fight officers.
The officers seized the dropped, loaded gun, Duff said.
The struggle continued back into the living room, where officers were able to cuff Nieves-Colon, Duff said.
At the same time as Nieves-Colon ran into the kitchen, Alvarez — armed with a knife and wearing a black ski mask — took off into a bedroom and jumped out of a first-floor window, Duff said.
Alvarez led officers on a foot pursuit through several backyards in the area until he was tackled by officers, Duff said. He continued to fight with the officers after being tackled, Duff said.
“A third suspect, who was interrupted by officers as he strangled a resident in the living room, fled the house as officers were detaining the gunman,” Duff said. “The investigation of the third suspect is ongoing. Officers learned the three suspects forced their way into the house and their motive was robbery.”
Medics responded to the home and treated one of the suspects for a minor injury, Duff said.
Both men appeared in state Superior Court in
New Haven Thursday morning.
Nieves-Colon was held in lieu of a $75,000 bond. Alvarez was held on a parole detainer and in lieu of a $125,000 bond.