Crime & Safety

Police Roundup: New Haven Man Accused of McDonalds Armed Robbery

Valentine's Day also proved popular for drug arrests.

Police Wednesday arrested a man on a warrant charging he is responsible for an armed robbery that took place last December at a local restaurant.

On Dec. 21 police were called to McDonalds at 2320 Dixwell Ave. and found one of the employees, Marcelo Tecpa, 46, bleeding "heavily" from the head, police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith said. 

According to police, someone went into the restaurant and hit Tecpa in the head with a blunt instrument and then picked him up and dropped him on the floor, Smith said.

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Another employee, Angel Bermejo, 35, heard Tecpa screaming, Smith said, and the suspect then went after him eith a knife, throwing him to the ground and forcing him to open the store's safe.

After the safe was open, the suspedt kicked Bermejo in the head, knocking him unconscious, Smith said, and took the cash and fled.

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Det. Thomas Rhone investigated the incident, ultimately applying for a warrant charging Keith Dowdy, an ex-employee, with the crime.

On Wednesday, the US Marshal's Service's Ct. Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested Dowdy in New Haven, Smith said.

Dowdy, 37, of 1002 Apt. H, Whalley Ave., New Haven was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny and two counts of second-degree assault.

Dowdy was held in lieu of $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Wednesday.   

 

-- Three teenagers were arrested Thursday after they allegedly robbed two people in the area of Circular Avenue.

At about 7:45 p.m. police received a report of a street robbery in that area, Smith said. A 49-year-old man told police he was walking on Circular Avenue when he was approached by the youths, one of whom threw a brick at him, Smith said.

The teens told him to give them his cell phone, Smith said, at the same time one reached into his waistband as if to pull a gun.

The man, who was not injured, handed over his phone, Smith said.

About 10 minutes later an 18-year-old resident in the same area encountered the three, Smith said, who ordered him to "empty his pockets."

As happened in the first incident, one of the youths acted as if he was going to pull a gun, Smith said, and the victim handed over money and electronic equipment to the trio.

A short time later Officer Chris Kakalow spotted two of the youths on Bradley Avenue, Smith said, where he arrested them. The third later turned himself in, Smith said.

All three were charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny.

The first, a 17-year-old from Hamden, was released after posting $50,000 bond and is due to appear in Meriden Superior Court March 8.

The other two, both 15 and one from Hamden and the other from New Haven, were taken to the state Juvenile Court on Whalley Avenue in New Haven. 

Because of their ages, the three were not identified by police.

 

--  Police made a drug arrest on Valentine's Day after allegedly finding cash and pot.

Officer Robert O'Neill responded to a report of drug activity going on in the area of Concord Street around 4 p.m., Smith said. 

As O'Neill approached a man, later identified as Philip Gulley Jr., he took off, Smith said. Once they located him, they found on him almost 12 grams of marijuana and $361 in cash, Smith said.

After officers handcuffed him, Gulley took off, Smith said, and was recaptured nearby on Dante Place.

Gulley, 19, of 102 Beacon St., was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and within 1,500 feet of a school, tampering with evidence and interfering with a police officer.

He posted $20,000 bond and is due to appear in Meriden Superior Court Feb. 28.

Later that day Officer William May saw a man acting suspiciously while sitting in the parking lot of a Dixwell Avenue restaurant, Smith said. 

When May approached the car, he smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car, Smith said. Officer Michael Nawrocki and his K-9 partner Hank then searched the car and found 34 grams of marijuana and $316 in cash, Smith said.

They also arrested the occupant, Marquis Brookshire, 33, of 33 Cassius St., New Haven, charging him with possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

Brookshire posted $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court Feb, 28.  



 
 

  


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