The suspect, who assaulted an elderly homeowner during a March 31 burglary on Bloomfield Avenue, is in custody.

Tony Villegas. Courtesy West Hartford Police Department

By Ronni Newton

A suspect who allegedly burglarized a home at 250 Bloomfield Ave. on March 31 and then assaulted the elderly homeowner, causing serious injury, is now in custody of West Hartford Police.

A warrant was obtained Tuesday for Tony Villegas, 37, of 461 Park St., No. 3W, Hartford, police said.

According to the police report, West Hartford Police located the suspect’s vehicle, a 2006 Saturn Vue, at his girlfriend’s home in East Hartford. West Hartford Police coordinated efforts with East Hartford, Hartford, and Waterbury police to search locations where the suspect was known to visit.

Within an hour of launching the effort, police said, the suspect was located at a friend’s apartment at 141 Woodland St., Hartford, and taken into custody without incident.

Lt. Ted Stoneburner said Wednesday morning that Villegas is in custody on charges that include first-degree burglary, first-degree assault, first-degree robbery, and third-degree larceny. He is being held on $1 million bond.

Stoneburner said that Villegas is a convicted felon with 27 prior arrests.

“We have worked with several agencies on this case including Hartford, East Hartford, Waterbury and Mamaroneck, NY. This was an outstanding investigation by our Detective Division to quickly solve this heinous crime against an elderly citizen,” Stoneburner said in an email.

The seriousness of the injuries inflicted in the incident, which included bruises, contusions, a concussion, and broken ribs, reportedly knocked the homeowner unconscious and resulted in a several-hour delay in calling police.

In the March 31 incident, the 79-year-old homeowner heard some noises upstairs, which he thought were his cats, and went to investigate.

As the homeowner headed upstairs, the burglar was on his way down the stairs carrying some objects, said Stoneburner. The burglar crossed paths with the homeowner and headed out the door.

The homeowner followed the burglar outside and was attempting to take a photo of the suspect’s vehicle with his cellphone when he was hit over the head with a blunt object.

Villegas appeared in court on Wednesday.

David Owens of The Hartford Courant interviewed the victim, Louis Kiefer, after the arrest of the Villegas. Click here to read that story.

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