SHELTON — Shelton police arrested a 20-year-old local man accused of stealing multiple vehicles and organizing street takeovers following the execution of a search warrant at his residence.
Jonathan Damato was found hiding in a crawl space when officers executed the warrant at 10 a.m. on May 21.
The Shelton Police Detective Division had been investigating street takeovers and stolen vehicles with assistance from several local agencies when they identified Damato as a suspect.
Police had previously located a stolen motor vehicle at Damato’s residence and recovered another vehicle in close proximity, linking him to the thefts.
Investigators also obtained information that Damato was an organizer of recent local street takeovers.
The search warrant was executed by Shelton Police with assistance from the DEA Task Force, Statewide Narcotics Task Force/Bureau of Special Investigations, and a West Haven K-9 officer.
Damato was arrested on two existing warrants and charged with two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle and interfering with a search.
He was held on a $150,500 bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Derby Superior Court on May 22.
During the same operation, police arrested 19-year-old Camilia Melendez of North Haven, charging her with interfering with a search.
Melendez was released on a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court on June 10.
