Off-Duty Cop Nabs Man

With the help of an off-duty West Hartford officer and two observant maintenance workers, local police on Wednesday arrested a suspected burglar.

Randy Parks, 30, of unit 7-16 Forest Glen Circle, was charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree breach of peace and fifth-degree larceny. Parks is being held on a $75,000.00 bond at Middletown Police headquarters with a court date of Wednesday, Sept. 28.

The incident began at about 2:44 p.m., Wednesday when Middletown police responded to Forest Glen Circle in the Westlake section of town where an off-duty officer was reportedly detaining a suspected burglar. Once on scene, officers found West Hartford off-duty officer Matthew Bonzagni holding the suspected burglar by the wrist and bicep. They quickly handcuffed Park, who lives in the Forest Glen complex, and placed him in the rear of a marked Middletown cruiser. 

Two maintenance workers had observed Park leaving building #12.  Knowing the residents, they knew that Park did not live in that building.  A short time later, they saw him enter the same building but wearing different clothing. The maintenance workers entered building #12 and decided to walk through each of three floors. They suspected that Park was inside of a unit where they heard noises so they knocked but no one answered.  Seconds later, they witnessed Park run from the apartment toward the parking lot. The maintenance workers knew at that point that Park was in an apartment that he was not supposed to be in. 

Off-duty West Hartford Officer Bonzagni happened to be in the area when the male fled on foot. Noticing that something may be wrong, he inquired what was going on. When the maintenance men told him that the fleeing male had just been inside of an apartment where he did not belong, Off-duty Officer Bonzagni immediately attempted to stop him.  The property manager assisted Officer Bonzagni by calling the Middletown police.  After a brief struggle, Parks was detained by Officer Bonzagni.  There were no reported injuries. 

Middletown detectives are currently working on the case to determine what else was taken from the apartment that Parks fled from.  So far, Parks was found to be in possession of a watch valued at approximately $500.00, credit cards, a small amount of cash and coins, and personal paperwork, all belonging to the resident of the unit where he fled from. 

Officer Bonzagni is to be commended for his efforts for apprehending the male suspect. Municipal officers are bound jurisdictionally to the towns or cities where they work. However, they can intervene in situations within the State of Connecticut where the crime occurring is classified as a felony. 

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