PD: Man Invades Ex's Apartment, Holds Her for Hours

NEW HAVEN, CT- A New Haven woman was held against her will and assaulted in her own apartment after her ex-boyfriend with a lengthy criminal history allegedly broke in March 20, according to police.

Police began investigating after a man reported to police that his daughter was being held hostage at her apartment in the 1500 block of State Street around 5:06 p.m.

Officers arrived at the apartment and spoke with the 26-year-old victim. She said her ex-boyfriend William “BJ” Brown, 29, of Winchester Avenue held her hostage from 11:30 p.m. on March 19 until noon on March 20, said Officer David Hartman, police spokesman.

She returned home March 19 and found the dead bolt to her front door was locked. She didn’t have the key so she climbed through a window and spotted Brow in her son’s bedroom.

She said he appeared intoxicated and agitated and forced her to lie on the kitchen floor, Hartman said.

He pinned her down while holding a knife in one hand. She said she was on the floor for about four hours and eventually Brown let her sit on a couch.

Brown became agitated and allegedly struck the victim in the face several times after she received a call from her child’s father. He stopped the assault when she kicked him in the stomach, Hartman said.

Brown took her phone and spoke with the father of her child, but he wasn’t making much sense, Hartman said. She got the phone back and sent him a text that said “help.”

Around 7 a.m. Brown apologized to her and around 11:50 a.m. there was a knock at the apartment door. Brown ran to a bedroom to hide while the victim ran outside to her child’s father. He drove her to West Haven.

Police found the apartment in shambles and EMTs attended to the victim’s injuries, which included many bruises. Police helped the victim form a safety plan which included not to stay at home until Brown was captured, Hartman said.

Brown called police around 7:30 p.m. and said he wanted to report that the victim was harassing him, Hartman said. A dispatcher told him to stay at his location on Winchester Avenue and officers would be there shortly to take his complaint.

Police arrived and took Brown into custody.

Brown, who has been arrested 28 times was charged with home invasion, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, second-degree threatening, third-degree assault and second-degree criminal mischief.