State Police Arrest 3 Accused In 'Street Takeover' Events

MERIDEN, CT — State police have arrested three people accused of involvement in "street takeovers" in Berlin and Waterbury.

The arrests are part of a months-long investigation into takeover events that have occurred throughout the state.

"These illegal racing events have resulted in assaults, shootings, motor vehicle collisions, injuries to pedestrians, as well as property damage," state police said in a statement. Police said that investigators "have begun taking the individuals responsible for organizing and promoting illegal street racing events into custody and seizing vehicles used to facilitate associated criminal activity."

One such incident occurred at 11:26 p.m. Sunday in Berlin when police observed a white Honda Civic in a drag race with no registration plate and what appeared to be a drag chute attached to the car. Troopers later saw the Civic being loaded onto a flatbed trailer pulled by a pickup truck and made a traffic stop.

Police found the Civic was reported stolen out of Danbury. The pickup truck driver was transporting the Honda to another location when troopers made the stop.

The pickup truck driver was identified as Flor Hiram Santiago, 43, of Meriden, who was taken into custody and charged with racing, reckless driving, first-degree larceny, second-degree reckless endangerment, and several motor vehicle violations. He was held on a $500,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on Monday.

State police also reported that Monday at 1:43 a.m., they saw two vehicles on I-84 west near exit 39 traveling side by side. Both vehicles accelerated and continued traveling side by side at speeds over 120 mph.

Troopers conducted a motor vehicle stop on both in Waterbury. The drivers were Tednnessy Torrellas Hernandez, 37, of Waterbury, and Hannah Bartolucci, 20, of Feeding Hills, MA.

They were taken into custody and charged with racing, reckless driving, and first-degree reckless endangerment. Torrellas Hernandez was also charged with improper use of color lights/high beams.

Both were released on $10,000 non-surety bond. Hernandez is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on June 14. Bartolucci is scheduled to appear in court June 22.

A similar takeover incident occurred in Tolland last month when more than 100 people blocked an intersection, surrounded residents in their vehicles, and caused extensive damage.

See related: Tolland Legislative Contingent Staging Forum On 'Street Takeovers'