Serial Armed Robbery Suspect Arrested Again

Days after police said a sock left at a crime scene helped them identify a suspected serial robber, police in yet another town have arrested Brett Downs, 32, of Southington, Conn.

Downs, who is a suspect in robberies in Wolcott and Southington, was charged today in connection with an armed robbery at the Shell Gas Station at 1593 Southeast Road in Newington on Jan. 23. 

He has been charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree larceny after an investigation by authorities in several towns.

Downs is accused of several crimes:

Dec. 23: Police said Downs went into the Cumberland Farms at 1655 Meriden Road in Wolcott, with a knife eartly that morning, jumped over the counter, held the knife to the clerk's throat and demanding cash. After stealing the cash from the register, Downs ran from the store, police said.

Jan. 31: Early on that morning, Downs went back to the same store and did the same thing, police said. Detective Jeff Egan was able to link Downs to the robberies through DNA from a sock that he had worn on his hand and left behind at the scene, police said.

Feb. 7: Police said Downs robbed Kaival Food Mart and Gulf Gas Station at 1123 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike in Southington with a silver retractable carpet knife and stole $180.

Police said Downs was identified through investigative efforts that included forensic evidence recovered at the crime scenes. 

He was arraigned at Superior Court in New Britain today and held on a $75,000 bond. 

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