'Insane.' Two men connected to power tool theft ring arrested following police standoff in Trumbull hotel
It happened around 11 a.m. Tuesday morning as police were trying to serve a warrant.
An hourlong police standoff inside Trumbull Marriott Shelton on Tuesday ended with two men and one woman being taken into custody.
Police say the two men are connected to a multistate commercial theft ring, responsible for stealing tens of thousands of dollars' worth of power tools from businesses throughout New England.
"Never heard of anything like this happening here," says Abraham Jeremiah, of Stratford. "It's kind of insane."
Guests staying at the hotel described the chaotic scene.
"Twenty-some-odd officers, SWAT team, riot gear, tactical weapons," says J.B., of Fairfield. "It was kind of insane."
It happened around 11 a.m. Tuesday morning as police were trying to serve a warrant.
Authorities say the two men and one woman threatened to shoot police and members of the U.S. Marshal Service.
Portions of the hotel were evacuated, and the parking lot was locked down, police say.
"A lot of police presence," J.B. says. "Dogs, too, police dogs."
Bryce Laister, of North Haven, Tyler Paolini of, Trumbull, and Alexus Urban, of Old Saybrook, all face a slew of charges.
Trumbull police say Paolini was also charged as a fugitive from justice.
He's facing extradition to New Hampshire on several larceny warrants.
"They were stealing from hardworking people, whether it was big corporations or not," says hotel guest Jordan Wingard. "I'm glad that they're getting those people off the street."
The investigation into the multistate commercial theft ring will continue, police say.
Authorities expect more arrests in the future.
