East Haven Police Make 3rd Arrest In April Attempted Home Invasion

EAST HAVEN, CT —A third suspect has been arrested in connection with an April 14 attempted home invasion, police said.

According to East Haven police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo, a person, later identified as Xavier Otero was captured on doorbell cam posing as a package delivery employee. Otero can be seen ringing the doorbell with a package in his hand before brandishing a handgun while attempting to enter a Maple Street residence as soon as the resident answered the door, Murgo said. The resident can be seen off camera shoving Otero out of the house, who then fled the area in a silver Dodge Ram Pickup truck, according to Murgo.

After the incident, images and video of the suspect and getaway vehicle were shared in the media and social media platforms, and several suspect identities were developed within hours, Murgo said. Those suspects were taken into custody later that evening and the following morning.

During the investigation, led by Detective Jon Trinh, a third suspect was identified, and after an arrest warrant affidavit, Juan Rodriguez-Rivera, 31, of Hartford. Murgo said Rodriguez-Rivera was taken into custody without incident in Hartford with the help of Hartford police.

It was learned through the investigation that Rodriguez-Rivera coordinated the attempted home invasion with the other two suspects in an effort to restrain and rob the occupants of the house, Murgo said. As earlier reported, the investigation revealed a second plot to commit a similar crime in Manchester, which was thwarted due to the quick actions of investigators with the help of the Hartford Police Department, police said.

Rodriguez-Rivera was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Home Invasion, Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Restraint in the First Degree. Rodriguez-Rivera was held on a $750,000 bail and faced a judge early Thursday morning in a New Haven courtroom.

The other suspects, Xavier Otero, 47, and Jean Carrasquillo-Torres, 26, both of Hartford, were charged with the following:

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 in violation
• Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Restraint in the First Degree