Suspect Charged in Kidnapping of Woman, Infant

Woman said man sexually assaulted her at a Hamden park.

Police arrested a New Haven man accused of kidnapping a woman and her infant daughter.

Hamden police received a 911 call from a woman in distress around 12:45 a.m. When they responded to the area near John Carusone Field, 325 Pine Rock Ave., they saw a car speed through the parking lot.

The driver, who was later identified as Adrian Barwise, initially stopped and police saw a woman in the front seat, crying hysterically and trying to get out of the car, police said.

The officer got out of his car and Barwise fled north on Pine Rock Avenue, nearly hitting the officer.

Hamden Police used stop sticks on Dixwell Avenue, near Foch Street, and deflated one of Barwise’s tires, but he kept driving on three tires until he lost control of the car on Shepard Avenue and hit a parked vehicle, police said.

Officers approached the vehicle again. Barwise attempted to escape through a rear door and police realized that an infant was in a car seat.

Police pulled Barwise from the vehicle and arrested him.

Barwise and the victim, a New Haven woman, knew each other, police said.

The woman told police that Barwise sexually assaulted her under a slide at John Carusone Field and held her against her will at the park and inside of the vehicle.

She tried several times to get out of the car with her daughter, but was not able to, police said.

The victim was transported to Yale–New Haven Hospital for medical treatment.

Barwise was charged with two counts of kidnapping in the 2nd degree, two counts of reckless endangerment, risk of injury to a minor, criminal attempt of assault on a police officer and additional charges.

He was detained at police headquarters on a $50,000 bond, is scheduled to appear in court in Meriden on Tuesday.

Barwise was also wanted on two arrest warrants out of New Haven.

Hamden police are investigating and more charges are possible. 

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