[Updated, 11:35 a.m.] One teen was apprehended earlier in the evening and two juveniles were taken into custody after a standoff on New Britain Avenue and Westgate Street that lasted more than five hours Wednesday.
Malachi Ford. Courtesy of West Hartford Police
By Ronni Newton
Updated, 11:35 a.m.
West Hartford Police Lt. Ted Stoneburner said Thursday morning that statements made by the parties taken into custody Wednesday night indicated that a BB gun was brandished during an argument that took place outside a residence at the intersection of New Britain Avenue and Westgate Street in West Hartford.
Stoneburner said that one of the juveniles brandished what appeared to be a handgun. The gun has not yet been recovered.
Malachi Ford, who is 18 and has been charged as an adult, was not the one with the gun, Stoneburner said. Ford had run into the residence at New Britain Avenue and Westgate Street but then jumped out a window and attempted to flee from police. He was apprehended and taken into custody outside 34 Colonial St., police said.
Two juveniles were still inside the house when Ford escaped, police said.
In addition, a sister of one of the juveniles was inside the house, and “denied that others were in the house” when she answered the door to police. She and her one-year-old child voluntarily left the house without incident.
The two juveniles who remained inside the house did not respond to police requests for several hours, prompting intervention by the SWAT team.
Original story
Three teens were taken into custody by West Hartford Police Wednesday night following an incident at the intersection of New Britain Avenue and Westgate Street that was reported at 5:48 p.m.
Acting on reports of a disturbance and that involved one suspect with a handgun, West Hartford Police responded to the scene and said that one suspect fled into a nearby home.
According to police, additional officers were called to assist and they established a perimeter around a home at the intersection of New Britain Avenue and Westgate Street.
Police said that one suspect, 18-year-old Malachi Ford of West Hartford, jumped out of a window of the residence and attempted to flee. He was taken into custody by police and charged.
Police surround 1195 New Britain Ave. Courtesy photo
Other occupants remained in the residence, and police report that they worked for hours in order to negotiate for them to exit. Reports by Lt. Jeremy Clark at the scene indicated that police initially had trouble making contact with the suspects.
The standoff ended peacefully when the SWAT team was able to enter the residence. Two juveniles were taken into custody.
Police said that there was never any risk to area residents.
Ford was charged with second-degree breach of peace, interfering with an officer, and risk of injury. He is being held on $50,000 surety bond.
The two juveniles were issued summonses for breach of peace, interfering with an officer, and brandishing a facsimile firearm. Both were released to parents or guardians.
A gun was not located, but police are continuing to investigate.
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They did not know the residents were not in danger until the incident was over 5 hours later. Residents on the street were not notified by police to stay in their homes. 5 people were detained in a private parking lot and the residents there were not notified that criminals were being detained 50 feet from their front door.