Three young men saw an elderly man riding on the Farmington Canal Trail and thought they could steal his bike.
They thought wrong.
The man fended off the attackers — and then the cops caught them.
That’s according to police spokesman Officer David Hartman. Here’s what he said happened:
The man was riding on the trail near West Ivy Street at around 12:30 Sunday. Three young men saw him coming. One “pushed a bicycle into his path and him off his bike.”
“The victim was determined and wouldn’t give up his bike to the would-be robbers. The victim was able to keep hold of the bike. The three lawbreakers eventually gave up and took off. Sgt. David Zanelli and Detective Michael DeFonzo soon spotted three suspects. They apprehended two. The young teenage suspects gave up their cousin as the perpetrator. Police are looking for the one [who] got away.”
Meanwhile, a burst of gunfire filled the air on English Drive near Rice Field and East Rock Park at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Apparently a member of a motorcycle gang fired the shots at the end of a fight. “Evidence of the gunfire was found and collected for examination,” Hartman reported. “Police are
interested in speaking with anyone who may know the identities of those involved.” (You can call 203 – 946-6304.)
Then, around 4 a.m. Monday, a 31-year-old man was shot in the left hand and abdomen. His cousin drove him to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where his injuries were deemed non-life-threatening. He told cops he’d been shot “perhaps” at State and Elm streets. Detectives determined the shooting “more likely” occurred near Grand Avenue and Jefferson Street. Detectives, who have “strong leads,” “have ruled out robbery as a motive in this crime,” according to Hartman..
What the hell is going on in New Haven lately? I apologize if this sounds ignorant, I don't mean for it to sound this way. Is it the new administration? The diminishing numbers of the police force? The "regular" summer crime season? No need to answer, but certainly feel free.