South Windsor Police Charge Men With Stealing Copper Wire

The following information has been provided by the South Windsor Police Department and does not indicate convictions:

Possession of Burglary Tools/Larceny in the Sixth degree:

On Saturday, Feb. 20, at about 9 a.m., South Windsor Police officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Mascolo Road.

The vehicle reportedly had left the area at a high rate of speed. Officers checked the area and found the car about ½ mile away at a scrap metal dealer. During an interview with the two occupants, the officer saw empty narcotics bags and syringes. The vehicle contained heavy gauge copper wire and cutting tools, the officer learned the story about how they obtained it was false, according to police.

Officers arrested the vehicle occupants:

Jedediah Robertson, 24, of 14 Maplewood Road, Mansfield, and Bethany Vesely, 21, of 78 Fisher Hill Road, Willington.

They were each charged with sixth-degree larceny, possession of burglary tools and possession of drug paraphernalia. Their vehicle, the copper and tools were seized as part of a burglary investigation.

Both Robertson and Vesely were later released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and were due in court on March 3.

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Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Drugs/Alcohol:

On Saturday, Feb. 20, at about midnight, a South Windsor Police officer stopped a vehicle on Pleasant Valley Road for a violation. Officers suspected the operator was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Following a series of roadside sobriety tests officers arrested the man, Brandon Clark, 31, of 68 Brindlewood Path, Colchester. During a search of the vehicle, officers found marijuana residue and a small bag of powder that tested positive for cocaine.

Clark was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, possession of cocaine, possession of less than ½ ounce of marijuana, and failure to illuminate marker plate.

On Thursday, Feb. 11, at about 1:00 a.m., a South Windsor Police officer stopped a vehicle on Clark Street for a violation. The officer suspected the operator was under the influence of alcohol. Following a series of roadside sobriety tests officers arrested the man, Robert Baral, 24, of 30 Stonehenge Road, South Windsor. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less the ½ ounce of marijuana.

Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in the Sixth degree:

Eunice Mateo, 35, of 786 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, was arrested Feb. 14 on a warrant and charged with conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. Police said Mateo’s charge stems from an October 2015 incident at a Buckland Hill Drive retail store. She was seen on surveillance video taking items valued at $121 off the shelf then returning them for store credit, according to police. Mateo was later identified and an arrest warrant was obtained for her.

Identity Theft/Forgery in the Third degree/Larceny in the Fifth degree:

Kassandra Garcia, 23, of 107 Putnam Street, Hartford, was arrested Feb. 8 on a warrant and charged with four counts of third-degree identity theft, four counts of third-degree forgery and four counts of fifth-degree larceny.

Officers also arrested another woman involved in the case, Camilla Ayala, 23, of 10 Beldon Street, Hartford. She was also charged with four counts of third-degree identity theft, four counts of third-degree forgery and four counts of fifth-degree larceny.

Police said the charges against Garcia and Ayala stem from a December 2015 complaint from a local business owner that someone had forged and cashed business checks totaling $7,664. The checks were made out to Garcia and Ayala and were fraudulent. Officers later obtained bank surveillance footage and identified the two women, obtaining arrest warrants for both of them.

Burglary in the Third degree/Larceny in the Second degree:

Joseph Rodriguez, 27, of 62 Albany Ave. Hartford, was arrested Feb. 10 on a warrant and charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny. Police said Rodriguez’s charges stem from a 2014 burglary at a Rye Street business. Information was developed linking Rodriguez to the crime and an arrest warrant was obtained for him.

Failure to Appear in the Second degree:

On Saturday, Feb. 20, at about 4:30 p.m. a South Windsor Police officer stopped a vehicle on Pleasant Valley Road for a violation. The officer learned the operator had a suspended operator’s license and was wanted on two re-arrest warrants by the Manchester Police department.

Officers arrested the man, Michael Johnson, 24, of 565 Talcottville Road, Vernon. He was charged with two counts of second-degree failure to appear. He was due in court on March 3.