POLICE/FIRE REPORTS
GROTON POLICE CHARGE MYSTIC MAN IN STABBING
Groton — Police on Wednesday arrested a Mystic man who allegedly stabbed another man in the arm on Tuesday.
Andrew R. Pendexter, 39, of 69 Canterbury Road was charged by Groton Town Police with carrying a dangerous weapon, breach of peace, second-degree assault, interfering with an officer, first-degree reckless endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At 9:17 p.m. on Tuesday, police said they responded to a residence in the Field Crest section of town for a disturbance involving an armed person who reportedly stabbed another person with a knife.
Groton Town and Stonington police officers secured a perimeter around the house and located a victim with a stab wound to the arm, police said in a statement. Officers attempted to make contact with the Pendexter, whom police described as despondent and believed to be armed with a knife, inside the residence.
Police said Pendexter initially refused to leave the residence but then, without warning, “slammed his body into a closed first floor level window in an unsuccessful attempt to exit the home.”
Pendexter then opened the window and dove head first onto the ground, where officers detained him, police said.
Pendexter was taken by ambulance to a medical facility for an evaluation. The stabbing victim was also transported to a medical facility for treatment and later released.
Police served a warrant on Pendexter on Wednesday. He remains held in lieu of a $75,000 court set bond and has pleaded not guilty to the charges court records show.
TWO NORWICH MEN CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING
Two Norwich men face a slew of criminal charges, including second-degree kidnapping, in connection with a domestic dispute with allegations that an autistic child was forcibly placed into a vehicle.
Jaylen R. Melendez, 20, of 49 Coit St., Apt. 1, and Christian Vazquez, 19, of 59 Merchants Ave. each were charged by state police on Monday with risk of injury to a minor, breach of peace, second-degree kidnapping, interfering with an emergency call, second-degree reckless endangerment, sixth-degree larceny and other charges in connection with a incident on Jan. 21 in Sprague.
Both men, with multiple other pending criminal cases, are due to appear in Norwich Superior Court April 3 on the latest charges.
State police said the two men were involved in a dispute over a planned trip to Ohio to see a hospitalized family member. The autistic child was returned home eventually in good health, police said.
Police said they held arrest warrants for the two men when they were located in Sprague on Monday. Police said they fled a traffic stop but were involved in an accident in Norwich, where they were arrested.
Melendez now faces additional charges of interfering with an officer, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of a controlled substance, sale of narcotics and carrying pistol without a permit.
Department of Correction records show both men remain held in prison, Melendez on bonds totaling more than $1 million and Vazquez on bond totaling $950,050.