Connecticut State Police Patch STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Department of Public Safety
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, Connecticut 06457
 
Contact: 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

5/21/2008  5:30 p.m.

STATE POLICE RESPOND TO AND INVESTIGATE

ARMED ROBBERY AT CONVENIENCE STORE IN HADDAM

       On Wednesday afternoon, May 21, 2008 at approximately 2:16 p.m. an armed robbery was reported to the State Police at the J D Mart convenience store located at #1618 Saybrook Road in Haddam.

       The victim/complainant and witnesses reported to the State Police that the suspect entered the store armed with a handgun and robbed the store.

The witnesses were able to provide a description of the suspect which was as follows: a white male approximately 50 years of age with gray hair and a gray beard approximately 5’-9” and 165 lbs. wearing a black and white shirt and jeans and armed with a handgun.

       Witnesses also reported that the suspect may have discharged a firearm as he was attempting to flee on foot from the robbery. However there were no injuries reported at the scene.

        The witnesses were also able to provide the State Police with a description of the vehicle used by the suspect to flee the scene. State troopers quickly located that vehicle abandoned in the parking lot of a near by elementary school. This prompted the lockdown of not only the elementary school but also the middle school and high school in the same vicinity.

        State Police K-9 teams and the State Police Helicopter responded to the area to search for the suspect whom was believed to still be in the area on foot.

        Based on the registration information from the abandoned suspect vehicle located by State Troopers a search focused on residential apartments above of business block located at #206 Saybrook Road.

         The local school were secured from the lock down under the supervision of State Troopers 4:42 for middle and high school and 5:17 p.m. for the elementary school.

         The State Police Tactical Team assembled in the area and is conducting tactical operations in the area of #206 Saybrook Road in a continuing effort to locate this suspect.   More information to follow as information develops.

5/21/2008   8:15 p.m.                            *UPDATE*

ARMED ROBBERY AT CONVENIENCE STORE IN HADDAM

       On Wednesday afternoon, May 21, 2008 at approximately 2:16 p.m. an armed robbery was reported to the State Police at the J D Mart convenience store located at #1618 Saybrook Road (Rt. 154) in the Tylerville section of Haddam. The victim/complainant and witnesses reported to the State Police that the suspect entered the store armed with a handgun and robbed the store.

The witnesses were able to provide a description of the suspect which was of great assistance to Troopers as this investigation progressed.

       Witnesses also reported that the suspect may have discharged a firearm as he was attempting to flee on foot from the robbery. At the time of this release that has not been substantiated by investigators. However there were no injuries reported at the scene.

        The witnesses were also able to provide the State Police with a description of the vehicle used by the suspect to flee the scene. State Troopers quickly located that vehicle abandoned in the parking lot of the near by Haddam Elementary School. This prompted the lockdown of not only the elementary school but also the middle school and high school in the same vicinity.

        State Police K-9 teams and the State Police Helicopter responded to the area to search for the suspect whom was believed to still be in the area on foot.

        Based on the registration information from the abandoned suspect vehicle located by State Troopers a search focused on residential apartments above of business block located at #206 Saybrook Road (Rt. 154) in the Higganum section of Haddam.

         The local schools were secured from the lock down under the supervision of State Troopers at 4:42 for middle and high school and 5:17 p.m. for the elementary school.

          The State Police Tactical Team assembled in the area and conducted tactical operations in the area of #206 Saybrook Road in a continuing effort to locate this suspect as Patrol Troopers and Middletown Police Officers patrolled and maintained a perimeter around the surrounding area.

**      Just prior to 7 p.m. a citizen who resides on Boulder Dell Road contacted Troop F to reported a suspicious unknown person in the wooded area near their residence. Troopers were sent to area where they located and took into custody the suspect. The suspect was armed with the weapon believed to be used during this robbery but he was taken into custody without incident and transported to Troop F. 

ARRESTED:  SUCIU, Eli    age 53   d.o.b. 10/02/1954

                     #206 Saybrook Road, Higganum, CT           

   Charges:
multiple felonies relevant to Robbery and Weapons charges              
    Court:
held on bond, arraignment at G.A. 9 in Middletown 05/22/2008 -10a.m.
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