Six people face charges in connection with a Vernon home invasion that investigators said started over the sale of a car.
On Nov. 5 just before 10 p.m. Vernon police officers responded to a 911 call reporting a home invasion on Spring Street. The caller reported two men trying to enter a first floor apartment through a window.
Officers responded and spotted two cars leaving the area. When the officer tried to stop one of the vehicles, the driver took off and crashed into a utility box at the intersection of West Main and West Streets. The occupants fled on foot, but police were able to capture the driver.
The driver, identified as 24-year-old Jaequan Marquez of South Windsor, told police the resident of the Spring Street address sold him and several other a “lemon” of a car on social media, so they’d one to the home to get their money back.
Marquez was charged with a variety of offenses including criminal attempt to commit home invasion, criminal attempt to commit robbery, and larceny and motor vehicle charges. He was held on a $350,000 court-set bond and is next due in court on Jan. 19.
Police arrested four others in connection with the crime.
Twenty-year-old Andrew Mikkelson, 21-year-old Brendan Burke, both of South Windsor, and 20-year-old Albert Lewis, of East Windsor, were charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. They were all released on $10,000 bonds and are due in court on Jan. 9.
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Twenty-two-year-old Jamal Butler, of South Windsor, was arrested and faces various charges including criminal attempt to commit home invasion, criminal attempt to commit robbery and interfering with police. He is due in court on Jan. 19.
Police said that one more arrest is pending.
