Southington Bank Robbery-Carjacking: Meriden Man Caught, Another Suspect Being Sought

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Southington police have a one man in custody and are hunting for another in the case of a wild chase and carjacking after a weekend bank robbery.

At 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, Southington police received a hold-up alarm notification from the People’s Bank branch inside the 505 North Main St. Stop & Shop.

It was reported that a man entered the bank and handed the teller a note demanding the money, police said. The thief the exited the store, climbed into a red mini-van operated by a second suspect and the van left the area in a northbound direction on Route 10, police said.

An officer saw the van and attempted to stop it near the Walmart at 235 Queen St., but the vehicle did a u-turn, hit another vehicle and then fled southbound on Rt. 10, police said.

A tire went flat on the van at intersection of North Main and Curtiss streets and it was driven to the Shell Gas station at 212 Main St., where it pulled to the side of the road, police said.

The two suspects fled the vehicle and one was taken into custody by police.

The second suspect climbed into a white Jeep Cherokee parked at one of the gas pumps at the Shell Station, police said. The suspect drove away, leaving a man who had been pumping gas, but his wife and grandchildren ages 6 and 3, were still inside the vehicle, police said.

A short time later the woman and the two children were released from the vehicle at a commuter lot off Exit
26 on Interstate-84 near the Cheshire/Waterbury line, police said.

They were not injured, police said.

Police are attempting to locate the second suspect and the white Jeep Cherokee bearing Connecticut registration AJ13246. Anyone seeing the Jeep should contact police immediately at 860-378-1667, authorities said.

The man taken into custody has been identified as Norman Renaldi, 44 of Dogleg Road, Meriden, police said.

Renaldi has been charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, three counts of criminal attempt to commit kidnapping in the second degree, criminal attempt to commit a carjacking, engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with an officer and possession of narcotics, police said.

Renaldi has been in custody on a $500,000 bond and was to scheduled to appear in Bristol Superior Court on Monday, police said.

It is alleged that Renaldi entered the bank, handed the teller a note demanding money and then exited the bank with the money, police said.

It was reported that $12,669.00 was taken during. Officers recovered all of the money, police said.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident can contact Southington police at 860-378-1667 / atillotson@southingtonpolice.org.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can utilize the Southington Police Department's Anonymous Tip Line at 860-276-1234, police said.

Photo Credit: SPD