Hamden Police: Men Worked Together to Burn Car for Insurance Claim

Hamden police have arrested two New Haven men for allegedly working together to set a car, which needed thousands of dollars of repair work, on fire for a false insurance claim, Capt. Ronald Smith said in a press release.

Hamden police responded to the area of Wintergreen Avenue and Carbonella Drive on Feb. 23 on the report of a motor vehicle fire.

An investigation by Detective Donald Remillard of the Hamden Police Department Major Crimes Division revealed that Cecil Sims advised his longtime friend Valdez Caldwell to destroy the vehicle.

A family member of Sims had earlier learned that the vehicle needed extensive work, costing thousands of dollars, according to Smith.

Sims subsequently instructed his family member to file a false insurance claim.

Caldwell subsequently drove the vehicle to Wintergreen Avenue and Carbonella Drive and lit it on fire, according to Smith.

Arrest warrants were submitted for Sims and Caldwell and they both turned themselves into police custody on April 8.

Sims, 57, of 60 Warren Street, Apartment 43B in New Haven, was charged with aiding and abetting third-degree arson. He was detained on a court-ordered $50,000 bond.

Caldwell, 58, of 275 Winthrop Avenue in New Haven, was charged with third-degree arson. He was also detained on a $50,000 bond. They are both scheduled to appear in court at Meriden Superior Court on April 22.

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