Suspect arrested after Woodside Avenue incident

#Middlebury #Police

Middlebury Police Chief Fran Dabbo said Middlebury Police were dispatched to 500 Woodside Ave. Monday, Aug. 1, 2017, at 12:37 a.m. when a resident there called to report a suspicious male wandering in the parking lot. The resident said the man was walking up and down the sidewalk in front of her apartment and looking in windows. This terrified the resident.

As police arrived, the accused, Robert Rende of Woodbury, 32, drove away in a small red car. Officer George Slaiby saw the car, later identified as a red 2001 Volkswagon GTI. Officer Slaiby and the responding officer, Fred Duverger, both attempted to stop Rende, but he increased his speed and drove onto I-84 westbound.

Slaiby notified dispatch, who in turn notified Connecticut State Police and Southbury Police. Rende, who was traveling at a high rate of speed attempted to exit the highway at exit 16. He could not negotiate the curve and continued straight onto a grassy area off the exit. His car eventually came to rest on a mound of dirt.

Rende refused to exit the vehicle and had to be forcibly removed. He suffered a small scrape to his left forearm as a result of the accident. A search incident to the arrest revealed Rende had a broken glass tube that contained a burnt residue in his front pocket.

Based on police training and experience, the officers know that using a glass tube is a common way to inhale crack cocaine. Rende was booked at police headquarters and charged with second degree breach of peace, third-degree criminal trespass, interfering with an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, and engaging police in a pursuit. A $10,000 bond was placed on Rende. He was held at police headquarters for a morning appearance Aug. 2 in the Waterbury Court.

Advertisement

Comments are closed.