Stamford, CT – A 36-year-old man, John Lacen-Romero, was arrested after allegedly kidnapping two children in Newington and leading police on a chase that ended in Stamford, authorities said. The dramatic incident involved multiple crashes, a hostage situation, and a lengthy police standoff.
Kidnapping and Police Chase
According to Newington Police, Lacen-Romero assaulted a woman at a home around 12:10 p.m. before taking two children and fleeing in a vehicle. The stolen vehicle led police on a chase, during which multiple crashes occurred as Lacen-Romero attempted to evade officers.
The pursuit extended onto I-95 southbound, and the vehicle eventually exited at Exit 7, where it crashed into another car and became disabled.
Standoff and Rescue
Authorities reported that Lacen-Romero barricaded himself with the children for approximately eight hours near North State Street and Canal Street in Stamford. Emergency crews, including a special response hostage negotiation team, managed the incident for several hours to ensure the safety of the children.
Officials said the children were rescued from the vehicle safely after what was described as a situation of “overwhelming concern.” They were taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment, though no serious injuries were reported.
Arrest and Resolution
After the rescue, Lacen-Romero was taken into custody, and authorities confirmed that the incident had been fully resolved. No further information has been released about charges or additional details regarding the assault or the children’s identities.
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