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19-year-old West Haven man charged in connection to 2023 Meriden street takeover

Adalberto Oceguera incited a crowd that cornered police cruiser, causing approximately $2,000 in damage, according to state police.

MERIDEN, Conn. — A West Haven man was arrested on Thursday for inciting a riot and street takeover that damaged a police car on May 6, 2023, in Meriden, State Police reported.

Adalberto Oceguera, 19, turned himself in to state police and was charged with conspiracy to commit criminal mischief in the first degree, inciting to riot, interfering with a police officer, breach of peace in the second degree and unlawful assembly.

Street takeovers occur when groups gather to perform stunts in their vehicles, including drifting and burnouts, state police said. These events can lead to street racing, illegal fireworks and damage to property, as was the case on May 6, 2023, in the parking lot of the Lowe’s outlet store on East Main Street in Meriden, according to state police.

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During overnight hours, the Meriden Police Department fielded several 911 calls regarding a takeover in the store’s parking lot, specifically mentioning fireworks, loud music and drag racing, according to Oceguera’s arrest warrant. 

When a marked police car arrived on the scene, a crowd of 30 to 40 people gathered around it within minutes, flipping off and pointing lasers at the responding officer.

A man wearing green sweatpants, a blue Nike sweatshirt, black and white sneakers, a black baseball hat and a black facemask waving a Mexican flag was the first one to run over and stand in front of the cruiser. He waved others over, and a crowd formed almost immediately.

The responding officer was cornered and attempted to drive away, but the individual with the Mexican flag jumped in front of his vehicle, blocking his path. The police car incurred approximately $2,000 in damage, as members of the crowd jumped on its hood.

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Noting that the Meriden takeover was one of several that occurred in the state in May 2023 and that social media played a key role in organizing each of the gatherings, investigators shifted their focus to an online search and obtained a warrant to receive Instagram data.

In their subsequent investigation, law enforcement identified Oceguera as a conspirator in the Meriden takeover using archived Instagram footage and messages from May 7, 2023.

On Feb. 22, 2024, law enforcement attempted to contact Oceguera at his home on Church Street in West Haven. He agreed to speak and was told police were investigating the takeovers from last May.

Initially, Oceguera denied his involvement, claiming he stopped attending takeovers in April 2023, but he changed his statements after law enforcement informed him that they viewed his Instagram account, state police said. Oceguera admitted to participating in takeovers in Meriden, Waterbury and Farmington, where he was fined by the Farmington Police Department.

When shown photos of the Meriden takeover, Oceguera acknowledged that he was the individual with the Mexican flag, according to the arrest warrant.

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On Thursday, Oceguera turned himself in to Central District Major Crime Detectives at Troop H in Hartford after learning of an active warrant for his arrest.

Oceguera was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Meriden Superior Court on March 19, 2024.

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