On 10/27/11 at approximately 12:15 p.m., State Troopers responded to the area of Rt.190 in Somers. Enfield P.D. advised they were in pursuit of two vehicles involved in a burglary in Enfield. Enfield PD lost contact with both suspect vehicles.

Shortly thereafter State Police received a report of an evading accident at Rt. 190 & Rt. 83 in Somers. The fleeing vehicle matched the description of the suspect vehicle. Minutes later, Troop C received a second call of a small vehicle that crashed on Rt. 83 and the operator had fled the scene on foot.

The vehicle was confirmed stolen out of Hartford. Troopers then received a 911 call reporting a male had broken into a home in Ellington and assaulted the homeowner, Wilhelm Frederick, 77 years old. Frederick confronted the suspect who was stealing jewelry. The victim was assaulted, causing a head injury. The accused also pepper sprayed the victim, stole his keys, wallet and jewelry.

The accused took the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene. A Trooper on patrol observed what was learned to be the victim’s vehicle backing out a long private driveway at a high rate of speed.  The Ttrooper attempted to stop the vehicle, which crashed at the intersection of Egypt Road and Hoffman Road in Ellington. The accused attempted to flee the accident on foot but he was taken into custody without incident.  The accused was identified as Raul Diaz (08-01-71) of 185 Hungerford St., Hartford.

State Police Detectives responded to conduct the criminal investigation and processed the home invasion scenes. Troop C troopers assisted in the investigation and conducted the motor vehicle accident investigations. State Police Detectives recovered evidence at the scene of the last crash where the accused was taken into custody including jewelry from the Ellington home invasion and evidence linking the accused to the Enfield burglaries.

Both the victim and the accused were taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Hartford for treatment of their injuries. The victim was treated and released after several hours at the hospital.

The accused was admitted and is under State Police Troopers’ guard at St. Francis Hospital. The accused will be charged with Home Invasion 53a-100aa, Assault of an elderly person 2^nd degree 53a-60a, Assault 2^nd degree 53a-60, Robbery 1^st degree 53a-134, Burglary 1^st degree 53a-101, Criminal Mischief 3^rd degree and Larceny 3^rd 53a-124. Bond will be $1,000,000.00 cash. He will be arraigned at G.A 19  upon his release from the hospital.

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Lt. J. Paul Vance