Hamden Man, 68, Inappropriately Touched Teen: Police

HAMDEN, CT — A 68-year-old Hamden man is accused of inappropriately touching a juvenile he refused to let out of his vehicle after offering the teen a ride on a rainy day, according to police.

Hamden Police say Dennis Ciardiello also asked the juvenile to watch pornography before the teen was able to escape from the vehicle at a red light.

Police responded to a street located in southern Hamden on a criminal mischief complaint on June 9 and while on scene, Officer Justin Thibault was approached by a teenaged juvenile, who told him that he wanted to report an unrelated incident, according to Capt. Ronald Smith.

Smith said that the teen advised police that on June 8 he was walking in the rain on Woodin Street and a resident, Ciardiello, asked him if he wanted a ride. The request was made through an open window at Ciardiello’s residence and the juvenile accepted, according to Smith.

Smith said investigation revealed that upon reaching the juvenile’s destination, Ciardiello wouldn’t let him exit the vehicle.

“Further investigation revealed that Ciardiello inappropriately touched the juvenile and that he had asked him to watch pornography,” Smith said in a press release. “As the vehicle stopped for a red control signal at a Dixwell Avenue intersection, the juvenile was able to escape.”

Thibault conducted an extensive investigation that led to the application of an arrest warrant for Ciardiello.

Hamden Police arrested Ciardiello at his residence on Sept. 5.

Ciardiello was charged with risk of injury to a minor and first-degree unlawful restraint. He was detained on a court-ordered $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Sept. 19.

Pictured: Dennis Ciardiello, 68, of Woodin Street / Hamden Police Department