Waterbury Police have arrested a man who is accused of stealing more than 40 phones from a store during an armed robbery on Friday night.
Officers investigated an armed robbery at the AT&T/Sprint Mobile store after two adult employees reported they were robbed by two adult males. They said one of the suspects was armed with a gun.
Investigators said an employee was assisting one of the suspects who inquired about a cell phone when the other suspect displayed a gun and ordered both employees to the back of the store. One suspect ordered the employees to the floor while the second suspect filled up a gym-type bag with cell phones from the display case and a store safe.
Police said the suspects stole approximately 40 or more cell phones and smart watches before taking the employees' cell phones and wallets, as well as cash from the cash register.
Neither employee was physically injured during the incident.
Patrol officers broadcast a description of the suspects and continued investigating.
Officers learned that a suspect of the robbery was behind Cherry Street in the alley. When they responded to the location, police said they found a black Acura MDX with no visible registration. It also had clothing similar to one worn by the one of the suspects and a gym bag matching the one used during the robbery in the back seat.
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An officer found an individual matching the description of one of the suspects while canvassing the neighborhood.
When the officer approached the suspect, later identified as 46-year-old Jesus Manual Torres-Miranda, the officer said he saw him remove something from his jacket and bury it in the snow.
Once officers tried to order Torres-Miranda to stop and show his hands, police said he dropped a brand new iPhone 8 still in the original box. He was apprehended without incident.
Police searched the area where Torres-Miranda was detained and found a loaded black handgun in the snowbank, police said.
Torres-Miranda is facing a list of charges including robbery, larceny, theft of a firearm, criminal use of a weapon, carrying a pistol without a permit and breach of peace. He was held on a $100,000 bond pending his arraignment in court.
Detectives are working to identify, locate and arrest any additional suspects. If you have any information, you're asked to contact the Waterbury Police Department Detective Bureau at (203) 574-6941 or Crime Stoppers at (203) 755-1234.
