Trio Are Victims of Attempted Robbery, Intimidation in West Side Incident

Three men were arrested on a variety of charges including intimidation by bigotry following an attempted robbery on West Broad Street early Sunday.

According to Stamford Police, at about 2:30 a.m. Aug. 17, a 26-year-old Hispanic man reported that as he and two of his friends walked west on West Broad Street at Schuyler Avenue, they were approached by several black males and a white male.

The victim said that one of the black males, identified as Joseph Baker, 19, pulled out a black .22 caliber revolver and held it to the victim’s head while demanding money from him and his friends, according to police. According to a police report, a white male, identified as Robert Anderson, then “began telling victim he doesn’t like Hispanic people, and that ‘they need to be kicked out of the neighborhood.’ “

Anderson then told Baker, “Give me the gun so I can shoot him,” according to the report. The other black male, identified as Danny Turkvan Jr., 21, stood in the background watching the incident, but did not actively participate. The victim told them he did not have any money and Baker, Anderson and Turkvan walked away heading west on Schuyler Avenue, according to the report.

The victim then called police. Officers converged on the area and located all three suspects on Schuyler Avenue near Smith Street. Officers Byxbee and Petrizzi ordered the three suspects — who fit the description given by the victim — to the ground at gunpoint.

Baker began running on Smith Street towards Stillwater Avenue, with Officer Velez and Officer K. Lynch running after him. While chasing Baker, Velez observed the cylinder of a black revolver fall onto the ground in front of 70 Stillwater Ave, along with several bullets. Lynch then began gaining on Baker, and observed him reaching into the waistband of his pants. Lynch then tackled Baker into the bushes and front lawn of 65 Stillwater Ave. where he was taken into custody, according to the police report.

Officers then located a black H&R 922 revolver with a missing cylinder on the front lawn of 65 Stillwater Ave., directly underneath where Baker was placed into custody. Also located in the area was a .22-caliber cylinder which contained three .22-caliber casings. Officers also located four .22-caliber rounds and one.22 caliber bullet head scattered around the area of the cylinder, according to the report.

The victim identified Baker, Anderson and Turkvan in a show-up-ID, and all three were taken into custody.

Baker was charged with possession of a pistol without a permit, criminal use of a firearm, conspiracy, interfering and three counts of criminal attempt at first-degree robbery.

Anderson was charged with criminal attempt at first-degree robbery, conspiracy, interfering and intimidation based on bigotry and bias.

Turkvan was charged with Interfering.

The police report did not indicate where the suspects lived or whether any bond was set.

In the police statement, the department said, “We would like to recognize Officers Byxbee, Petrizzi, K. Lynch and Velez for an excellent and outstanding job and commend their diligence and timely response in successfully locating the three suspects responsible for terrorizing innocent community members. The Stamford Police Department will not stand for this behavior within our Spanish community or tolerate this behavior from any of our community members.’