Vernon Armed Robbery Suspect Pinched for Skipping Court Date

VERNON, CT — A Hartford teen charged in an armed robbery last month in a bowling alley parking lot was arrested on Wednesday for skipping out on a court date, police said.

Joshua Dionne 19, was picked up in Manchester. He was due in court to face charges that include first-degree robbery, fourth-degree larceny, first-degree forgery, marijuana possession and second-degree threatening, police said.

He was already out on a $150,000 bond and another $300,000 was added to that, police said. He was to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Thursday.

He was also charged with violating probation, which translated into another $150,000 bond, police said.

At 10:57 p.m. on Feb. 11, Vernon police received a 911 call about an armed robbery involving a handgun in the parking lot of the Spare Time bowling center.

One in the group that called 911 said he and a carload of friends were at Spare Time to participate in the nighttime "galactic bowling" offering, according to a warrant.

The man told police they were approached by other men with a gun, police said.

Some in the car eventually admitted they were there to sell a half-pound or marijuana, according to a warrant. That's about half of a supermarket bag, police said.

The accused robbers fled the scene and the vehicle made it to the Berlin Turnpike in Newington, where it eventually crashed near Webster Street, police said.

See the full story about the arrests here.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel