Man Charged With Armed Robbery at Newington Store

NEWINGTON, CT — An East Hartford man was arrested Friday in connection with an armed robbery at the GameStop on the Berlin Turnpike.

Around 10:34 a.m., Newington police received a report of an armed robbery from a store employee who said a man entered the Turnpike Plaza store and brandished a silver handgun. The employee said the man informed him he was being robbed and demanded money, then secured the employee with zip ties face down behind the counter and stole cash and merchandise from the store, police said.

As the suspect attempted to exit the store through a locked rear entrance, the employee was able to free himself from the zip ties and exit the store via the front entrance. Once outside, the employee instructed witnesses to contact police.

A short time later, the suspect exited the front of the store and fled north along the Berlin Turnpike. He was discovered by police hiding in the thick brush just north of the plaza, and was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Nicholas Velazquez, 19, of East Hartford, was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree unlawful restraint, third-degree larceny and second-degree breach of peace. He was held in lieu of $100,000 bond, and was slated to be arraigned Monday in New Britain Superior Court.

Photo courtesy of Newington Police Department