Press Release from East Haven Police Department

During the early morning hours of March 12, the East Haven Police Department (EHPD) Investigative Services Division set up surveillance to execute a search and seizure warrant at the address of 125 Pleasant Street, Apt. 3, in New Britain. Detective Jon Trinh, who led the investigation, identified a resident of that address as being responsible for committing numerous burglaries and car thefts throughout the State of Connecticut, along with several other accomplices.

While conducting surveillance on the house in New Britain, investigators observed a Volkswagen Tiguan pull into the residence, along with several other vehicles. Investigators observed numerous individuals enter the Volkswagen and depart from the residence.

At approximately 4:11 a.m., officers were dispatched to the CarMax at 121 West Frontage Road in East Haven for a burglary in progress. Upon officers’ arrival, it was determined that several individuals entered the CarMax property in a gray Volkswagen SUV, later determined to be a Tiguan, and utilized a vehicle on the property to ram the gate and proceed to steal two vehicles from the CarMax lot: a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2018 Chevy Silverado.

At 5:41 a.m., with officers from several different agencies in place conducting surveillance, the stolen Chevy Silverado was observed entering the driveway of 125 Pleasant Street in New Britain, at which point three individuals were observed exiting the vehicle. Investigators immediately moved in to intercept the three individuals in the driveway. After a foot pursuit, two individuals were detained. They were identified as Eric Ruiz, 26, of New Britain and Alex Sierra, 31, of New Britain. Ruiz was in possession of a 9mm Glock handgun, which was later determined to be stolen out of Tampa, Florida in 2021.

Both individuals were taken into custody and transported to the EHPD for processing.

Sierra was charged with interfering with a police officer and larceny of a motor vehicle. Sierra was held on a $100,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in New Haven court on Wednesday, March 20.

Ruiz was held on a $250,000 surety bond for the following charges: burglary in the third degree, conspiracy to commit burglary in the third degree, criminal mischief in the first degree, conspiracy to commit criminal mischief in the first degree, conspiracy to commit criminal trover in the first degree, two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, two counts of conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespassing in the second degree, interfering with a police officer, carrying a pistol without a permit, theft of a firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm.

Ruiz also had several active arrest warrants with a total bond of $300,000 and an arrest warrant out of Newtown Police Department for $20,000. Ruiz is scheduled to appear in New Haven court on Wednesday, March 20.

The identity of the third suspect has been confirmed by detectives, and charges will be forthcoming for that individual.

The EHPD stated that this matter remains under investigation.