Engaged Couple Charged In Groton Home Invasion: PD

GROTON, CT - Police said an engaged couple have been charged in the recent Groton home invasion of a man who had allegedly solicited sexual favors from the female suspect. The incident occurred Nov. 19 at approximately 1 a.m. at a home on Bridge Street, according to police.

Police said a man was found handcuffed at his home after having been robbed by a male and a female suspect. Officers conducted a search of the area for the suspects with negative results, police said.

Police said officers continued to investigate the situation and found the female suspect had been solicited by the victim from a prostitution website, and that he intended to pay her for sexual favors.

Police said the female suspect initially entered the victim's home alone but later went to her car and reentered with the male suspect.

Police said the male suspect claimed to be a police officer, and the two chased the victim upstairs to his bedroom. The male suspect had a silver and black pistol stuck in his waistband, police said.

The victim was ordered to keel on the floor as the female suspect placed him in handcuffs, police said. She then removed two plastic zip lock bags containing a large amount of cash from the victim’s dresser drawer, and both suspects ran out of the home.

Police were later able to identify the suspects as 24-year-old Ashley Harnois of Woonsocket, R.I., and 27-year-old Jerome Taylor of New London, police said.

Police said a day after the home invasion, officers encountered Harnois and Taylor at a local hotel and arrested them on separate prostitution-related charges.

At the time of that incident, Taylor was found to be dressed in all black attire wearing clothing with the words “POLICE” written on the shirt, police said. A silver and black BB gun was located in the vehicle where Taylor was found, as well as a black tactical type vest carrier commonly used to contain body armor.

Police said Harnois allegedly admitted both to working as a prostitute and working with Taylor to rob the Bridge Street victim during an interview with officers. She also identified Taylor as her fiancé, according to police.

Police said Taylor also allegedly admitted to the home invasion robbery, and said he uses a police persona to scare people so he doesn’t have to use force.

Taylor was charged Thursday with home invasion, larceny, robbery, carrying a dangerous weapon, unlawful restraint, impersonation of a police officer and promoting prostitution, police said.

Harnois was charged with home invasion, larceny, robbery, unlawful restraint and prostitution, police said.

Both suspects were held on $200,000 surety bonds and were scheduled to appear in court Friday.

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