West Hartford Police say 37 year-old Tony Villegas has only been out of jail just three months and has 27 prior arrests. Now, he's being held on $800,000 bond on charges of home invasion, burglary, assault, robbery and larceny, and he'll next appear in court April 19.
The victim, 79 year-old Louis Kiefer spoke to FOX 61 about the scary incident. He said he was listening to Billy Holliday music in his Bloomfield Avenue home "and enjoying life, so to speak, and I heard a commotion upstairs and the drawers opening and shutting."
Kiefer says that's when he saw a man at the foot of the stairs, who said he was security. The stranger was holding a pillowcase stuffed with things, including Kiefer's wife's jewelry and other valuables.
Kiefer chased him out the door and tried to take a picture of the suspect's car with his cell phone. That's when he was attacked in his driveway. He says the last thing he remembers is getting into a scuffle and falling near some bricks.
He later made his way inside and called police, who he says did a great job in making him feel secure after the attack. "They were incredible," Kiefer said. "After I phoned them, they were here within five minutes."
Villegas was arrested at a friend's home at an apartment on Woodland Street in Hartford. Officers said Villegas was getting ready to do heroin at the time of the arrest.
Police were able to find most of the valuables stolen from the home.
Kiefer said, "They just did brilliant work tracking this guy down. I think that he hit me with a brick based on the nature of the incision on my head and I think he tried to choke me given the bruising on my throat."
Lt. Ted Stoneburner, of West Hartford Police, said that while information gathered from Kiefer was useful, he would not advise other victims of home invasions to act in a similar matter. "We don't expect you to lie down and roll over, but based on this situation, the best thing may have been to let the suspect go and call us," he said.
