New Britain

Teen Arrested After Fatal Hit-and-Run in New Britain

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New Britain police have taken one suspect into custody who they say was driving a stolen SUV that hit and killed a jogger Tuesday night.

The suspect is a 17-year-old New Britain resident. He was found hiding in a closet at his home Wednesday morning, police said. They did not release the suspect's name due to his age. He is charged with first-degree assault, reckless driving, and first-degree larceny by possession.

The incident happened on East Street at Belden Street around 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said an Audi stolen out of Hartford hit a man who had been running on the sidewalk. The man, later identified as 53-year-old Henryk Gudelski, of New Britain, was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries and was later pronounced dead.

Officers said they received a call from a person who said he was following two people who stole his wallet from his vehicle while he was at a gas station on Main Street in Plainville.

Police told the man to stop following the suspects, but the man continued to follow the vehicle. At some point, the supects sped up and that is when the SUV hit Gudelski, according to police.

Two people who were in the SUV took off on foot, according to police.

The 17-year-old in custody is a repeat offender, arrested 13 times in the past 3-and-a-half years for everything from stealing cars to reckless driving, assault with a knife, and drug possession, according to New Britain Police Chief Christopher Chute.

Police are still searching for the second suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lieutenant Blackmore at the New Britain Police Department at (860) 826-3131 or call the anonymous tip line at (860) 826-3199.

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