EAST HAVEN, Conn. — East Haven police arrested and charged two suspects for an attempted home invasion on Friday morning.
East Haven police said on Maple Street at approximately 9:43 a.m., Xavier Otero, 37, approached a home dressed as a deliveryman, wearing an orange safety vest, holding a package in his hand. Otero rang the doorbell and told the homeowner that the package he had belonged to him. He then showed a black handgun and attempted to enter the house. The homeowner can be seen pushing Otero away, who then ran away and fled the area after getting into the rear passenger side of a silver and black Dodge Ram.
Officers searched the area but did not locate the suspect vehicle at that time. The incident was captured on the homeowner's Ring camera system and images of the suspect and video of the incident were immediately released.
"Never in my 40 years have I seen anything like this," said Angelo Chieppo of East Haven. "Now, when somebody comes to my door, you open it? You don't? It's just ... terrible. It makes me feel that you can't trust anybody coming to your house."
"We usually make a decision after looking through the window at who's there, if we know the person if that person might have an official vehicle perhaps," said Michael Frost of East Haven
Soon after, tips began coming in and the East Haven Police Investigative Services Division began following up on leads, including the lead that led them to Otero and it was confirmed that he was the suspect shown in the photos. Otero was located at a family member's house on Bellevue St. in Hartford and was taken into custody without incident.
Investigators then uncovered an alleged plot to take part in a home invasion where the occupants of the residence were going to be restrained with zip ties and robbed. The investigation led to the discovery of the possibility of a second home invasion planned in the city of Manchester.
Shortly after, the Dodge Ram pickup truck, seen in the video was located at a residence on New Britain Ave. in Hartford. Because of the possibility of another home invasion being imminent, investigators applied for a search and seizure warrant for the residence. While maintaining surveillance, a second male suspect was taken into custody a short time later, after he was seen entering the Dodge Ram pickup truck.
He has been identified as Jean Carrasquillo-Torres, 26, and his involvement in the East Haven incident was confirmed.
In their search and seizure at the New Britain Ave. residence, investigators found approximately 1.1 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and items commonly used in the operation of a drug factory including a hydraulic press.
They also found a bag full of heavy-duty zip ties, consistent with the information they got related to the planned home invasions and weapons-related items.
Otero and Carrasquillo-Torres were transported to the East Haven Police Department where they were processed.
Otero was charged with:
- Home Invasion
- Threatening in the First Degree
- Criminal Possession of a Firearm
- Criminal Attempt to Commit Unlawful Restraint in the First Degree
Carrasquillo-Torres was charged with
- Conspiracy to Commit Home Invasion
- Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Restraint in the First Degree
Carrasquillo-Torres was also charged with narcotics and weapons-related charges for the evidence recovered during the execution of the search and seizure warrant at the New Britain Ave. residence.
Otero and Carrasquillo-Torres were held at the East Haven Police Department on a $250,000.00 bond and are scheduled to appear in court on April 26.
Carmen Chau is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at cchau@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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