Norwich police said officers conducted a “large-scale arrest operation” on Clairmont Avenue early Friday morning, apprehended two people sought for murder in the Bronx, New York.
The local arrests were carried out by police, members of the United States Marshals Task Force, and Connecticut State Police. The two people apprehended were wanted in connection with a February 11 shooting.
The first suspect was hauled into jail earlier this month.
On March 4, police detained Zion Martinez, 19, of the Bronx, New York, in Norwich.
Investigators concluded that a second suspect was most likely hiding out with Martinez.
Officers followed Anthony Caballero, 19, of St. Augustine, Fla., to a Norwich residence on Clairmont Avenue.
Neighbors took cellphone video of the chaotic early morning scene when authorities descended on the home on Friday. Around five a.m., I heard “Bam bam bam bam bam,” a Norwich neighbor told FOX61. “I thought someone was just being belligerent, banging on a trash can.”
FOX61 spoke with two men who said they were inside the house during the raid.
Both requested anonymity. “They were yelling at us, telling us to come out with our hands up, as if I did something wrong,” one person inside the residence claimed. “I looked out the window and saw guns pointed at me,” another said. “I was scared for my life.”
Several people were ushered outside. However, court documents show that Caballero was not one of them.
Flashbangs were utilized, and after nearly 90 minutes of police commands going unanswered, Connecticut State Police officers forced their way in and discovered Caballero hiding inside a bedroom closet.
According to the documents, a K-9 officer was sent, and Caballero was bitten twice on the arm before being taken into custody without incident.
Caballero was charged as a fugitive and resisted arrest after being hospitalized for a medical checkup.
He’s currently being held on a $1 million bond. Martinez, his accused partner, is also in custody.
According to Norwich Superior Court staff, the decision on when the two are extradited back to New York to face second-degree murder charges will be made by the judge.
Martinez and Caballero were both charged by Norwich police as fugitives from justice. The bond for Martinez was set at $550,000, while the bond for Caballero was set at $1 million.
Any road closures in the vicinity have already reopened to traffic.
This is a developing story.
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