BRANFORD — A 19-year-old Pennsylvania man has been arrested in connection with vehicle break-ins and a hit-and-run incident that occurred over two days in June.
Manuel Rosario-Nieves of Erie, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody by Portland police after his vehicle was found abandoned near a construction site.
On June 6 at approximately 10:31 a.m., Branford police received a report of a suspicious man breaking into vehicles in the area of Highland Avenue and Riverview Avenue.
The suspect was described as wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt and black ski mask and was seen driving a gray Hyundai SUV with dark tinted windows.
The suspect was observed exiting the Hyundai, running to an Audi SUV, removing an item from the trunk, and fleeing the scene.
Two days later on June 8 at 10:23 a.m., police were dispatched to a residence on Short Beach Road for a hit-and-run report.
A gray Hyundai SUV matching the previous description had followed a victim home and intentionally struck the rear of their vehicle twice at the end of a private driveway before fleeing southbound on Short Beach Road.
Rosario-Nieves was found hiding behind a residence after reports came in of a suspicious man fleeing the area near the abandoned vehicle.
He was charged with criminal attempt assault 2nd degree, burglary 3rd degree, two counts of breach of peace, two counts of criminal trespass 3rd degree, criminal mischief 2nd degree, larceny 6th degree, two counts of reckless driving and evading responsibility.
Rosario-Nieves is being held on bond and is scheduled to appear at New Haven Superior Court at 121 Elm Street.
