They Got Him

Police Officer Jose Escobar stopped by Victor’s Market Monday morning to pick up his usual egg white and turkey bacon sandwich order. He left with a bigger prize — a 32-year-old man on the lam for allegedly committing five New haven armed robberies.

The arrest took place around 9 a.m. Monday. It ended an almost week-long manhunt

Here’s what happened, according to police spokesman Officer David Hartman:

The 32-year-old man was hanging out at Victor’s Market, which is on Grand Avenue. He was there for a good 15 minutes. The owner was growing suspicious about what he was doing there.

Officer Escobar then walked in to pick up his order, which he’d phoned in. He recognized the 32-year-old man as the man who allegedly held up the Westville First Niagara bank branch and four other city spots over the past month, as well as possibly other spots in neighboring communities. Escobar knew the man was believed to be armed and dangerous. So, since a number of people were inside the store, he greeted everyone, walked outside — and phoned for back-up.

Two back-up officers arrived. They helped Escobar go back inside and grab the man without incident.

You got me,” the man said. He had a handgun in his waistband, a syringe in his pocket.

In addition to the robbery charges, the man was arrested on an escape-from-custody warrant from the state police.

Meanwhile, late Sunday afternoon a 17-year-old young man walked up to officers in the area of Lodge and Level streets in the West Rock neighborhood’s Westville Manor projects. He said he had heard the cops were looking for him. They were. He was arrested and charged with being involved in the murder of a 29-year-old man last Wednesday night during an apparent robbery attempt. Police had already arrested the alleged shooter. Read about that here.

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