Stolen Newtown Vehicle Used In Danbury Robbery: PD

DANBURY, CT — Police arrested three men who are believed to have been behind several bodega and liquor store robberies in the city since September 2017. In one case a vehicle stolen from Newtown was recovered.

Osvaldo Lopez, 29, of Danbury was charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree larceny for his part in a Nov. 4 robbery at the Mobil gas station on Newtown Road, police said. The female victim said that Lopez entered her vehicle while she was pumping gas and fled the scene with the vehicle.

He was also charged in another Nov. 4 robbery that took place at the Reina Grocery Store on South Street. He threatened employees with a long shotgun and demanded money from a cash register, police said. He fled the scene in a vehicle that was stolen out of Newtown on Nov. 2. That vehicle was recovered at the Mobil gas station after he apparently ditched it in favor of the woman's vehicle.

Carlos Mejias-Montero, 26, of Naugatuck was charged with second-degree larceny, conspiracy, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit unlawful restraint. The charges are related to an Oct. 11 incident at the Edwin and Julia Liquor Store on Westville Avenue. He entered the store with another suspect, threatened an employee with a handgun and demanded cash. He also stole bottles of liquor and cigarettes, police said.

Giovani Canles, 26, of Danbury was also arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny and criminal possession of a firearm in connection with an armed robbery on Nov. 25 at an Elm Street bodega, police said. He entered the store and threatened an employee with a handgun. He demanded cash from a register. The victim's juvenile daughter was nearby during the incident.

More arrests are anticipated.

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