UTICA — A 34-year-old Utica man was arrested after allegedly dragging a victim from their vehicle and stealing it on Erie Street last month.
David Colon was charged with second-degree robbery following the April 25 incident that occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. in the 1400 block of Erie Street.
According to the Utica Police Department, officers were dispatched to a residence after receiving reports of a forcible vehicle theft.
The victim reported that while entering their vehicle, they saw a male running toward them.
Despite attempting to quickly enter the car and lock the door, the suspect opened the door and forcibly removed the victim from the vehicle.
Police say the suspect then took the keys from the victim’s hands, entered the vehicle, and drove away.
The investigation was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, which located surveillance footage from a nearby location.
The footage was distributed by the Mohawk Valley Crime Analysis Center, leading to the suspect’s identification by a Utica Police officer.
The stolen vehicle was found unoccupied on the 1100 block of Orchard Street the following day.
Colon was located and arrested on April 29, four days after the incident.
