3 Charged In Hit-And-Run That Sent Man To Hospital: Naugatuck Police

NAUGATUCK, CT — Three Hartford men have been charged in a recent hit-and-run incident that left a Naugatuck man fighting for his life in the hospital after he interrupted a car break-in, according to police.

In a news release Thursday, police said Dallas Diamond Rodriguez, John Carlos Santos and TaJay Javon Hunter, all of Hartford, were recently arrested in connection to the July 12 hit-and-run that occurred on Alma Street.

According to police, Joel "Brandon" Guth, 42, left his home around 4:30 a.m. that morning to confront suspects attempting to burglarize his vehicle.

While doing so, Guth was intentionally struck by a black vehicle, which fled the scene and left Guth in the road with life-threatening injuries, police said.

Naugatuck police and EMS officers performed emergency care to Guth before taking him to Waterbury Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Police did not provide an update on Guth's condition Thursday.

Rodriguez, 24, was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, evading responsibility, reckless driving, second-degree larceny and operating a motor vehicle without a license, as well as seven counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and seven counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal mischief.

He was held on a $350,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning, police said.

Santos, 23, was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree larceny, as well as seven counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and seven counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal mischief.

He was held on a $250,000 bond and arraigned in court Monday, police said.

Hunter, 22, was charged with charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree larceny, as well as seven counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and seven counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal mischief.

He is currently being held at Hartford Correctional Facility on unrelated criminal charges and is scheduled to appear in court Friday, police said.

"We commend the hard work and coordinated efforts of our Naugatuck police detectives," police said in a news release, "especially lead investigator Detective McGarvey, the Greater Hartford Regional Auto Theft Task Force [and] CSP Major Crime Division, who all spent countless hours investigating this incident. We also thank the community for sending tips, videos and information that helped us successfully bring these suspects to justice."