A city man faces several charges after police say he forced his way into an apartment on Garfield Avenue with a piece of metal "rebar" and struggled with the residents.
Hector Ortega, 30, of no certain address, was arrested after the incident and charged with home invasion, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, carrying a dangerous weapon, second-degree reckless endangerment, and second-degree criminal mischief.
According to Deputy Chief Peter Reichard, police received a 911 call at 6:49 p.m. from a female resident of the first-floor apartment at 49 Garfield Ave. saying there was an unknown man in the apartment. Police responded and saw Ortega walking away from the apartment, and arrested him without incident.
In a news release, Reichard said Ortega knocked on the apartment door and when a resident opened the door he forced himself inside. Police said Ortega was wearing his hat pulled low and was carrying a piece of metal rebar, and he struggled with one of the residents, causing minor injuries.
Ortega is being held on $100,000 bond pending his arraignment on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
Anyone who has information on this incident should contact the New London Police Department at 860-447-5269.
Rebar pieces have long been used a a weapon in violent criminal activity. Originally used only at large construction sites by Mobsters and union thugs rebar has crept into our society. The FBI and justice department has failed to keep statistics on how dramatically rebar crime has escalated. Unlike guns a piece of rebar used in a crime can be tossed out in the garbage or in any vacant lot and go unnoticed. "The recent home invasion in New London has brought the use of rebar in violent crimes to the minds of this administration" states New London Mayor. "we will put a stop to this". Mayor Daryl Justin FInizio will also call on the state legislature to pass tougher legislation concerning the purchase and possession of rebar. We need a 3 day waiting period and background checks on all those that purchase rebar. All legitimate use of rebar is planned and the new laws will not negatively impact law abiding citizens that purchase and possess rebar.
Cant wait to get my new 3D printer.
as for being a racist, damn right, any mention of one's ethnicity outside of the said mentioned group and bingo, you're in the racist club! personally, i'm from a select group of unique individuals myself, very rare and not often represented in most of the larger groupings of two legged animals. ;-))