A Connecticut man is facing charges for stealing a motor vehicle in Essex and operating it with a suspended license.
The Essex resident trooper’s office received a report of a motor vehicle stolen from the Bokum Plaza in Essex around 1:40 p.m. on Monday, according to the Connecticut State Police.
A trooper from Troop F in Westbrook and an Essex Police Department officer responded to the scene and learned that a black Pontiac Grand Prix was stolen from the parking lot area while the owner was shopping in a nearby store, state police said.
The vehicle’s owner said they left the Pontiac running and returned to find their vehicle missing, according to state police.
A witness claimed that they saw a man on his cell phone standing beside some bushes and that they noticed the Pontiac was running. The witness said when they returned to their car a short time later, both the man and the Pontiac were gone, state police said.
The Essex officer reviewed security camera footage from nearby businesses and recognized the man, identified as 38-year-old David Hunter of Deep River, from “previous law enforcement interactions,” according to state police.
The officer showed the vehicle owner a still photo of Hunter from the security camera footage. According to state police, the owner of the car said they also recognized Hunter, who “did not have permission to take the vehicle.”
Another witness claimed to have seen Hunter arrive at a residence in Deep River driving a black Pontiac that matched the description of the stolen vehicle, but that he left the area shortly thereafter, state police said.
The Essex officer called Hunter. When he answered the phone, the officer identified himself and Hunter reportedly responded by hanging up the call, according to state police
The officer then texted Hunter and told him who the vehicle belonged to, and Hunter reportedly acknowledged by replying, “Ok” “And”. The officer then encouraged Hunter to return the vehicle, but he did not respond, state police said.
Shortly after, the officer learned that Hunter told others that he intended to leave the Pontiac at a church located somewhere between Deep River and Middletown, according to state police.
“Multiple troopers, along with the Essex officer, began searching for the stolen vehicle within this area and later located the unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot of a local church in Higganum,” state police said. “The victim was notified that their vehicle had been located, and when they arrived on scene to retrieve their vehicle, they advised the Essex officer that their vehicle had sustained new damage.”
Police reportedly received information that Hunter was in Higganum. Several troopers responded to the area and located Hunter hiding underneath a bridge on Depot Road, according to state police.
Hunter allegedly admitted to taking the vehicle but did not want to say where he put the keys to the car. Additionally, a DMV query reportedly revealed that Hunter’s driving privileges had been suspended.
Hunter was taken into state police custody and transported to Troop F where he was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal trover and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension.
He was being held on a $50,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled for arraignment at Middlesex Superior Court on Tuesday.
