NAUGATUCK — A bank robbery suspect led police on a chase through multiple towns Monday morning before being taken into custody following a manhunt in the Naugatuck State Forest.
Naugatuck police, Connecticut State Police, and officers from surrounding towns spent about two hours searching the Naugatuck State Forest for the man, who fled into the forest after his car became disabled on Route 8 in Naugatuck. The man, who Southington police identified as 44-year-old David Latino of Naugatuck, was found with the help of police dogs and taken into custody by state police at about 12 p.m.
The incident began with a robbery of the TD Bank at 121 Main St. in Southington. Southington police said Latino entered the bank at about 9:50 a.m. and passed a note to a teller demanding money. The teller gave Latino an undetermined amount of cash, and he fled the scene in a green SUV, Southington police said. Latino didn’t show a weapon or imply that he had one during the robbery, Southington police said.
A Southington officer responding to the bank spotted the SUV on West Center Street in Southington and attempted to pull Latino over, Southington police said. Latino stopped briefly and then drove away. Due to poor road conditions, Southington police said, the officer didn’t pursue the SUV any further, and a description of the vehicle was broadcast to surrounding towns.
Latino then led police on a pursuit through multiple towns before his car became disabled on Route 8 South in Naugatuck near Exit 25, Naugatuck police spokesman Lt. Bryan Cammarata said. Latino then fled on foot and ran through the Naugatuck River into the High Rock area of the state forest west of Route 8, he said.
Police conducted a “focused search” of the area, Cammarata said, and took Latino into custody without further incident.
Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls was placed on lockdown for a short period of time during the search.
Cammarata said it was later learned that Latino stole the SUV from the home of someone he knew in Naugatuck prior to the robbery on Monday.
Latino was taken to Waterbury Hospital for a medical evaluation, Southington police said. He was released from the hospital Monday night into police custody. He is likely facing charges from multiple agencies, police said.
Southington police charged him with second-degree robbery, fourth-degree larceny, reckless driving and engaging in pursuit. He was held on a $250,000 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Bristol Superior Court on Tuesday.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from previous posts.
