A man and three juveniles were arrested when authorities recovered a stolen car in Waterbury last week.
The vehicle, a 2012 Hyundai Sonata, was spotted last Thursday around 3:30 p.m. parked in the area of Prospect Street and Linden Street after being reported as stolen from New Haven a day earlier, according to Lt. Ryan Bessette of the Waterbury Police Department.
The vehicle was seen as officers from the department’s Vice and Intelligence Division and Auto Theft Task Force were being assisted by the Connecticut State Police Violent Crimes Task Force in a coordinated investigation into recent motor vehicle thefts in the city, Bessette said.
According to Bessette, authorities found three juveniles in the Hyundai who were between 15 and 17 years old. All three were taken into custody and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and first-degree criminal trover.
Some of the suspects were also charged with interfering with an officer, as they allegedly tried to flee before being apprehended, Bessette said. Two of the juveniles have previously been arrested in connection with car thefts, including one who had allegedly stolen cars on two occasions, according to Bessette.
During the investigation, Bessette said authorities also arrested 20-year-old Rafael Ruiz-Gonzalez of Norwalk after he was allegedly found with marijuana packaged in small clear plastic bags for “street-level sale.” He also had a digital scale and $1,200, according to Bessette.
Bessette did not elaborate on Ruiz-Gonzalez’s connection to the stolen car investigation. He faces charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and operation of a drug factory.
Ruiz-Gonzalez was released on a $5,000 bond.
Bessette said police in Waterbury encourage anyone with information about recent car thefts to contact the department’s Auto Theft Task Force at 203-574-6941 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 203-755-1234.
