Hartford Man Charged In West Hartford Supermarket Robbery

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Local police said Tuesday they have charged a Hartford man in connection with a Jan. 14 robbery at West Hartford's Big Y Supermarket.

According to the West Hartford Police Department, Manuel Gunnels, 31, of Hartford, was charged with first-degree robbery; first-degree threatening; fifth-degree larceny; and second-degree breach of peace.

Police said Gunnels was being held on a $50,000 bond and is to be arraigned in Hartford Superior Court.

Gunnels was located in nearby Bloomfield by the Bloomfield Police Department and was turned over to West Hartford back on March 7, police said Tuesday.

According to the WHPD, Gunnels is also connected to several other incidents in the region.

Police said on Jan. 14, at about 12:08 p.m., the department was called to the Big Y at 772 N. Main St., West Hartford, for a reported robbery.

According to the WHPD, a male suspect — later identified as Gunnels — approached the customer service desk, demanded money, and implied he had a firearm.

Police said no gun, however, was displayed during the interaction.

After receiving an undisclosed amount of money, police said the suspect fled the store on foot.

Police said, at the time, he was described as a tall, light-skinned male wearing all-black clothing and a blue surgical mask.

One Big Y worker was transported to an area hospital for evaluation due to being "shaken up," police said Tuesday.

According to police, the West Hartford Police Department Community Support Unit poured over surveillance camera footage as part of its investigation.

Through that work, a suspect was identified and connected to other, similar, robberies in the area.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the WHPD at 860-523-5203 or use the WHPD Tip Line/email at 860-570-8969 / whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov