Crime Spree Suspects Drove Head-On At Officers, Civilians: Meriden PD

MERIDEN, CT — Six people were arrested after a crash involving a Meriden police cruiser and a stolen vehicle on Thursday night, according to police.

The crash happened on South Broad Street, and two detectives were inside the police cruiser, according to police.

Meriden police and several other local departments were searching for the stolen vehicle as it was suspected of being used in three armed robberies throughout Connecticut on Thursday, according to Meriden Police Lt. Darrin McKay.

McKay said there was evidence recovered in the stolen vehicle related to other crimes, including two handguns.

“In a separate incident, they were also suspected of driving head-on at Meriden Police officers, and civilians, and swerving away at the last moment over several hours earlier this morning,” McKay wrote in a news release. “Officers located three stolen vehicles, with suspects, in Hubbard Park. As officers approached, the suspects lit one car on fire and fled in the other two. These individuals are suspected of committing a crime spree throughout the state over the last 48 hours.”

Two adults and four juveniles were apprehended and arrested after running from the stolen vehicle after the crash with the Meriden police cruiser, according to police.

Robert Barbera, 18, of Meriden, was arrested on three counts of risk of injury to a minor, and one count each of larceny of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, interfering with police, evading responsibility, operating without a license, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and engaging in pursuit. He was held in lieu of a $1 million bond.

Kyle Mitchell-Howe, 20, of Meriden, was arrested on charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit larceny of motor vehicle, and interfering with police. He was held in lieu of a $500,000 bond.

Meriden Police Chief Roberto Rosado said Barbera was the driver of the vehicle, a Mazda that was stolen out of Darien, that was used in several robberies throughout Connecticut.

Rosado said the six suspects are also believed to have been involved with armed robberies that happened in Wallingford, Southington, Torrington, and Branford over a 48-hour period.

At a news conference Friday morning, Rosado shared an email tip Meriden police received from a resident reporting a recent incident. The resident said they were almost struck by a black Mercedes around 6 p.m. while they were walking into the Family Dollar store. The resident said that later the same day, around midnight, a white Hyundai that was driving around 70 mph shifted into their lane as they were crossing the road.

Rosado said, “our communities are impacted and our citizens are being put at risk by the violent and reckless behavior of these juveniles and violent adult offenders.”

“Many of these offenders are repeat offenders that are continuously released back in the community because of lower bonds with no consequences and without being reformed,” Rosado said during the news conference. “Because of that, we’re seeing criminal behavior escalate. This is increasingly putting our officers throughout the state in dangerous situations.

“What are we doing in the state of Connecticut? What we are doing is not working and we need immediate change to protect our citizens and our officers on the frontline.”

Rosado said four officers were injured over the course of the incidents. He said they will “bounce back” and were released from the hospital on Thursday night.

Rosado also shared video of the car that was set on fire at Hubbard Park (see below):

Police are continuing to investigate the incidents over the past two days.