Teens Charged in Farmington Canal Robbery Attempt

Three teens are facing charges after they and three others allegedly tried to rob a bicyclist of his bicycle on the Farmington Canal Trail Saturday night.

At about 9 p.m. Saturday Hamden Police got a report of an attempted street robbery on the canal near Oregon Avenue, according to police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith.

According to Smith, officers talked to a 52-year-old Hamden resident, who told them that he was riding his bike on the canal when six teens, described as black males, blocked his way. 

One of the teens threw his bicycle into the path of the victim, Smith said, in an attempt to steal the victim's bike. They held the victim on the ground while trying to get his bicycle from him, Smith said.

The attempt was foiled when a retired New Haven Police Officer who was nearby intervened, Smith said, at which point the teens fled heading south on the trail.

"Moments later, Officers Stephen Baris and Justin Martin stopped three of the teens, on the canal line in the area of Morse Street," Smith said in a release Monday. "Further investigation revealed that they were responsible for the attempted robbery. As officers attempted to arrest the teens, a large group gathered, screaming and yelling at officers."

Police found that two of the teens had on them a loaded BB gun and a folding utility knife, Smith said.

The three arrested, whose identities weren't released because of their ages, included a 17 year-old Shelton resident, who was charged with criminal attempt to commit third-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit third-degree, criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny and interfering with a police officer. He was released to the custody of his mother, Smith said.

Also charged a 15 year-old and a 17-year-old Hamden resident. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree robbery, and the 15-year-old also was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon. 

All three are scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court in New Haven later this month.