Attempted Home Invasion Suspect Taken Into Custody: East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — Police released new details Saturday concerning an attempted armed robbery/ home invasion that was recorded on a porch camera on Friday morning.

A suspect, who posed as a package delivery employee, knocked on the door of the Maple Street residence at 9:45 a.m. Friday morning. After telling the resident that the package he had belonged to him, the suspect immediately brandished a black handgun and attempted to enter the home, police said.

In the porch camera video, posted online here, the homeowner can be seen pushing the suspect away, before the man fled the residence in a silver and black Dodge Ram with a bed cover.

On Saturday, police said that Xavier Otero, 47, was the person who approached a residence dressed as a deliveryman, wearing an orange safety vest, holding a package in his hand.

"Otero rang the doorbell of the residence and told the homeowner that the package he had belonged to him," police said in a news release Saturday. "He then immediately brandished a black handgun and attempted to enter the residence. The homeowner can be seen pushing Otero away, who then ran away and fled the area after getting into the rear passenger side of a silver and black Dodge Ram."

Officers searched but did not locate the suspect vehicle, police said. The incident was captured on the homeowners Ring camera system, and images of the suspect and video of the incident were disseminated through various media and social media outlets. Soon after, tips began coming in, police said.

Police said Otero was the suspect shown in the still photos and video disseminated to the media and social media. Otero was located at a family member's house in Hartford, and he was taken into custody, police said.

"Investigators uncovered an alleged plot to take part in a home invasion where the occupants of the residence were going to be restrained with zip ties and robbed," police said in a news release. "The investigation led to the discovery of the possibility of a second home invasion planned in the city of Manchester."

"Shortly after learning that information, the Dodge Ram pickup truck, seen in the video was located at a residence on New Britain Avenue in Hartford, CT," police added in its news release. "Because of the possibility of another home invasion to be imminent, investigators applied for a search and seizure warrant for the residence on New Britain Avenue. While maintaining surveillance on the residence, a second male suspect was taken into custody a short time later, after he was seen entering the Dodge Ram pickup truck."

He was identified as Jean Carrasquillo-Torres, 26, of Hartford, police said.

As a result of the executed search and seizure warrant at the New Britain Avenue residence, investigators found approximately 1.1 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and items commonly used in the operation of a drug factory, including a hydraulic press, police said.

Additionally, in the same room, investigators located a bag full of heavy-duty zip ties, police said.

Otero and Carrasquillo-Torres were transported to the East Haven Police Department, where they were processed.

Xavier Otero was charged with the following:

• Home Invasion
• Threatening in the First Degree
• Criminal Possession of a Firearm
• Criminal Attempt to Commit Unlawful Restraint in the First Degree

Jean Carrasquillo-Torres was charged with the following:

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

Carrasquillo-Torres was also charged with narcotics and weapons related charges for the evidence recovered during the execution of the search and seizure warrant at the New Britain Avenue residence, police said.

Otero and Carrasquillo-Torres were held at the East Haven Police Department on a $250,000.00 bond and are scheduled to appear in court on April 26.