New Haven police make arrest in kidnapping case

NEW HAVEN, CT. (WFSB) - New Haven police arrested a man on kidnapping charges after he took a 5-year-old boy from a bus stop and refused to return him, according to the New Haven Police.

Officers were dispatched to a residence in New Haven at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Sept. 14 for a report of a domestic dispute that was later determined to be a child abduction, police said.

The victim told officers she and Christopher Rodriguez, were involved in an argument in another town during which he became extremely upset, police said. Rodriguez left the victim in that town, then drove to New Haven, where he picked up her 5-year-old son from the bus stop, according to police.

Rodriguez is not the boy’s father, police said. When he spoke with the victim by phone, he refused to bring the child home and told her that if police were contacted, he would engage them in a pursuit and kill both of them, police said.

Officers also discovered Rodriguez had several outstanding arrest warrants, including a violation of parole from New York, where the underlying charge was second-degree murder, police said.

Amber Alert issued

Due to the gravity of the situation, an Amber Alert and a Be on the Lookout notice were issued for Rodriguez, police said.

Detectives from the Special Victims Unit and members of the Crisis Negotiation Team responded and established phone contact with Rodriguez, according to police. During the call, he exhibited irrational and paranoid thoughts, including revving his engine and saying he saw police following him, and he repeatedly said he would intentionally crash the car, police said. Efforts to ping his cell phone were unsuccessful, police said.

After several hours, negotiators convinced Rodriguez to leave the child, and he gave the boy to a tow truck driver in Bridgeport, directing the driver to take the child to New Haven, police said.

Suspect located in Branford

Locating Rodriguez was considered a priority, and the case was assigned to Officer Gregory Reynolds, who is currently assigned to the U.S. Marshals Task Force, police said.

On Sept. 17 at approximately 11:03 p.m., Rodriguez was located and taken into custody without incident at a hotel in Branford, police said.

He has been charged with kidnapping in the first degree, risk of injury to a minor, and two counts of breach of peace in the second degree, police said. He was also charged as a fugitive from justice, and his outstanding warrants were served, according to police. His total bond was set at $300,000, police said.

“We are incredibly proud of our Officers and Detectives for successfully deescalating a very tense and rapidly evolving situation. Because of their efforts, multiple lives have been saved, and a dangerous individual is now safely in custody,” Chief David Zannelli said.