New Haven Man Charged In Armed Kidnapping

NEW HAVEN, CT — A New Haven man has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a woman at knife point, according to police. Luis Xavier Rivera, 34, was charged with first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, two counts of weapon in a motor vehicle, two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon, and first-degree threatening.

He was held on $250,000 bond and was arraigned Tuesday at New Haven Superior Court.

Police said they were initially called at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a fight outside an apartment complex in the 200 block of Quinnipiac Avenue. Officers found people arguing but not fighting and did not make any arrests.

They were called again to the same location at 3 a.m. for another report for a fight. An individual from the earlier incident had left, returned with a knife, and abducted a 38-year-old woman.

Police then began searching for the suspect, Rivera, and the victim. They found him a short while later in the Hill neighborhood at Spring Street and Howard Avenue. The victim was found unharmed.

In Rivera's minivan, police said they found a large knife and a rifle style BB gun which had been modified to resemble an AK-47 assault rifle with high capacity ammunition magazine.