WOODSTOCK, Conn. — We are learning new information about what led up to a home invasion and police standoff that rocked the rural Windham County town of Woodstock Wednesday.
According to police, what happened at the Woodstock Road home involves homeless people with addiction problems. The home is owned by an older couple who say they try to help the homeless by letting them stay there.
A bystander provided FOX61 with a video that captured the moment one of the suspects tried to flee from police. They were eventually captured.
“I don’t know who they are. I don’t know where they are from. I don’t want to know,” said Victoria Lussier.
Lussier and her boyfriend own the home on Woodstock Road that became the center of a 12-hour hostage situation and state police standoff Wednesday afternoon.
FOX61 got an exclusive look inside that home where state police say 39-year-old Reuben Field and 37-year-old Mark Racine broke in through windows with baseball bats and guns and destroyed the inside while they were holed up for hours.
“If they were in front of me? They wouldn’t be standing very long, and I would go to jail, I’ll be honest. I would knock them right out,” said Lussier.
Despite being surrounded, the suspects refused to surrender. Lussier made it out of the home while police helped her boyfriend.
“SWAT came here. Protected us with a weapon and a cop and we went down and got him," she said.
Both Field and Racine were arraigned in Danielson court Thursday, where FOX61 learned they are both homeless and dealing with substance abuse issues. They are facing charges including home invasion, burglary and resisting arrest.
FOX61 obtained the warrants, which detail how Racine and Field allegedly drove a stolen car to the residence and broke in. They encountered Hannah Deojay, who was staying in the home with Walter Lawson. Deojay asked Field and Racine what they were doing and they responded, “You know what we’re doing here.”
Deojay assumed that meant, “They were looking for Lawson” who Field and Racine had, “a beef with”.
“I don’t know what they were after. Burglary, money. I don’t know. We’re not rich so they weren’t looking for us. Hannah isn’t rich either. People are whacked nowadays,” said Lussier.
Both Field and Racine are being held on $100,000 bond and were ordered to stay away from this residence and the people who live in the home.
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Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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