West Hartford Police Chief Helps Nab Larceny Suspect

A Hartford man who was fleeing from Shop Rite on Kane St. last week ran when he saw West Hartford police in uniform outside the store, but was apprehended a short time later. 

The suspect was running toward the woods at the back of the store, but tripped and fell running up the loading dock as the police were gaining on him, according to the police report. 

One of the men in "hot pursuit" of the suspect was West Hartford Police Chief Tracey Gove.

Gove had decided to ride along with one of the patrol sergeants last Wednesday, and said that about 30 minutes after they set out they were in the area of Shop Rite where an "active larceny" was taking place. Units had been dispatched based on a call from the store that "a black male in his fifties was concealing merchandise in his pants."

Gove said that he and Sgt. Eric Rocheleau saw the suspect exit the store. The suspect was followed by loss prevention yelling, "That's him," according to the report, and began to run despite commands to stop by both Gove and Rocheleau.

Gove said, "[I] found myself in a foot pursuit, something I haven't done in many years. After a short, all out run, we captured the suspect at the rear of the store." The suspect tripped, Gove said, but he and Rocheleau were "hot on his heels," Gove said.

Rocheleau ordered the suspect, who has been identified as Edwin Cruz, 48, of 449 Garden St., apt. 3, Hartford, to stay down after he tripped, and stated in the report that he appeared to be considering escape but "chose not to run as I was pointing a Taser at him." The Taser was not used.

According to the police report, a pat down revealed several packaged screwdrivers from Shop Rite concealed in the Cruz's pants.

Cruz has been charged with interfering with an officer and sixth degree larceny. He was held on $5,000 surety bond.