2 Charged In Monday Carjacking In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Vernon Police have charged two people in connection with a Monday carjacking.

Nathaniel Harrington, 19, of Springfield, MA and a juvenile were arrested Monday, police said.

The carjacking took place on Dobson Road at 2:31 a.m., police said. Harrington and a juvenile accomplice used a handgun to demand money, a cell phone and the victim's vehicle, police said. Police said the pair "cornered" the woman near the intersection of Dobson Road and Miriam Drive.

According to an arrest warrant, the woman was driving a Buick and was getting gas on Route 30 before heading to her business, which opens early. She was heading west on Route 30 after getting gas when a car slowed in front of her, according to a warrant.

She let the car pass, continued west on Route 30 and turned right onto Dobson, according to a warrant. That's when the same car sped up, cut off the Buick and stopped short in front of it, according to a warrant. Harrington and the juvenile then attacked the woman and stole the Buick, a warrant states. The woman walked to Cumberland Farms nearby and called police after the car was stolen, according to a warrant.

A total of $15,000 in cash and some blank checks were in the Buick from the woman's business, according to a warrant.

At 3:20 a.m., Harrington was spotted driving a Volkswagen with no tail lights in East Hartford, police said. Shortly after being pulled over, Harrington began receiving texts asking if he was going to "snitch," according to a warrant. Other messages said "we're rich," according to a warrant. Harrington was uncooperative with police, according to a warrant.

The juvenile was also caught in the area shortly after, police said.

There were no reported injuries.

Harrington has been charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, first-degree larceny, the criminal use of a weapon, first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree breach of peace and robbery by carjacking. Harrington is being held in lieu of a $250,000 court set bond and was to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Tuesday.

The juvenile was charged with first-degree robbery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery with a deadly weapon, first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree breach of peace, robbery by carjacking and conspiracy to commit the criminal use of a weapon. The juvenile will be presented in New Britain Juvenile Court, police said.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information can call Vernon Police at 860-872-9126.