West Hartford Police: Suspect Held 2 at Knifepoint Inside Xfinity Store

West Hartford Police arrested a female suspect on charges that include kidnapping and assault after she held two victims at knifepoint.

Alexandra Pennell. Courtesy of West Hartford Police

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police converged on the Xfinity Store at 1253 New Britain Ave. Monday at approximately 4:30 p.m. in response to a 911 call from one of two victims who was being held at knifepoint.

Comcast’s xfinity store at 1253 New Britain Ave. in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

According to Capt. Eric Rocheleau, officers were able to take the suspect, Alexandra Pennell, 28, of Hartford, into custody without incident. A knife was found in her possession, he said.

Rocheleau said that the suspect and two victims knew each other, and were involved in a domestic incident that began in Hartford with the assault of one of the victims by Pennell.

According to the police report, after the assault, that victim and another person were forced into a vehicle at knifepoint by Pennell and forced to drive to the Xfinity store at the corner of New Britain Avenue and South Main Street in West Hartford in order to purchase a new phone for Pennell.

One of the victims was able to call 911 while inside the store to alert police, Rocheleau said.

Another victim reportedly had a protective order against Pennell in place and had been recently assaulted, police said.

Pennell has been charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of first-degree unlawful restraint, first-degree criminal attempt at robbery, second-degree threatening, third-degree assault, criminal violation of a protective order, and second-degree breach of peace.

She is being held on $150,000 surety bond.

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