Sneaker Dispute Lands Vernon Man In Enfield Jail

ENFIELD, CT — A dispute over a pair of sneakers wound up with a Vernon man being arrested after allegedly fabricating a story about being robbed by a man with a gun.

Justin Lattanzio, 22, of Vernon, was charged on a warrant with criminal attempt to commit third-degree robbery, second-degree beach of peace, misuse of 911 emergency system, first-degree false incident report and second-degree threatening. He was released after posting a $2,500 bond, Police Chief Alaric Fox said.

In a lengthy affidavit supporting Lattanzio's arrest, Officer Matt Tarducci stated he was dispatched to the entrance to Enfield High School on Route 5 around 4:12 p.m. on Feb. 20, with a report that a robbery had just occurred. Lattanzio said a man in possession of a firearm had robbed him of a pair of sneakers.

Lattanzio said he had planned to meet the man and exchange a pair of Jordan sneakers for money, and when he handed the shoes to the man, the man began to drive away without paying him. Lattanzio said he attempted to confront the man by going up to his window, but the man pulled up his shirt and revealed a black handgun. Lattanzio stated he stopped to avoid conflict and the man drove away, the affidavit states.

Upon extensive questioning of Lattanzio and the man he accused of stealing the sneakers, plus a pair of witnesses, police established the unidentified man, whose name was redacted in the affidavit provided by police, had actually owned the sneakers and had posted them for sale on his Facebook page. He wound up selling them at Plato's Closet in the Shop & Shop Plaza late in the morning of Feb. 20, but upon receiving an offer of $200 from a person identifying themself as "Alex Cross" on Facebook, he bought back the shoes from the store and agreed to meet "Cross" in the lower level parking lot behind the high school, according to the affidavit.

A witness who had driven Lattanzio to the meeting site told police Lattanzio jumped out of his truck upon arrival in the school lot and ran up to the man's car door, then immediately returned to the truck and told the driver the man had a gun, the affidavit states.

Another witness, who was in a blue Nissan Altima with the unidentified man, stated Lattanzio had a white canister of what she believed to be pepper spray in his hand as he approached the car, then pointed it at the man's face, causing him to quickly roll up his window, put the car in reverse and exit the parking lot toward Green Valley Drive. He then drove back to Plato's Closet and re-sold the shoes, according to the affidavit.

Upon questioning by police, the witness who had driven Lattanzio called him to ask about the white canister, and Lattanzio replied it was in the passenger side door compartment space. The driver located the canister and brought it to Tarducci, who determined it was a 1.5 oz. white cylinder can with a red top labeled "Back Off Dog Repellent: Personal Protection Against Dog Attacks," the affidavit states.

Investigation revealed the unidentified man and Lattanzio had made a transaction the previous week involving a pair of red Nike shoes and a paintball gun, but Lattanzio "felt he had been ripped off" and arranged the second meeting under an assumed Facebook name, according to the affidavit.

Tarducci said following his questioning of the witnesses, Lattanzio did not return several calls requesting him to return to the police department for further questioning, and applied for a warrant for his arrest.

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