Berlin Resident Arrested In Carjacking Case

On October 1, members of the New Britain Police Department arrested Maryann Skwiot, 48, of 299 New Britain Road, Kensington, charging her in relation to the carjacking of an older female on September 29. Skwiot had been positively identified as the suspect by investigators over the weekend and an arrest warrant had been obtained.

On this date, a NBPD Sergeant working at a private duty job observed Skwiot operating her vehicle on East Street in New Britain. The sergeant followed Skwiot into Newington and called for assistance. Skwiot was stopped and taken into custody on Fenn Road in Newington without incident.

Skwiot was charged by warrant with Carjacking, Larceny second Degree, Assault on a Victim over 60 and Threatening second Degree. Skwiot was also charged with Possession of Narcotics, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Failure to Print after a search incident to her arrest uncovered crack cocaine and related ingestion apparatus.

History of the incident:

On Saturday Sept. 29, at approximately 5:30 p.m. the New Britain Police Department responded to the area of 100 Grand Street on the report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located an elderly female victim who reported that she was pushed out of her vehicle by a white female (later identified as Skwiot) with long dark hair believed to be in her forties.

The victim had stated she was approached by the suspect in the area of St Francis Church on Stanley Street and requested her assistance. The suspect claimed that she had been involved in an altercation with her husband who pushed her into Stanley Quarter Park Pond. The suspect was said to have been wet from the knees down and requested a ride from the area which the victim agreed to provide.

While in the area of 100 Grand St the suspect told the victim she was taking her vehicle and began to push her out of it. The suspect was able to push the victim from her vehicle and fled the area. The victim sustained minor injuries as a result of the struggle.

The victim’s 2007 Dodge Caravan color blue, was recovered unoccupied in the City of New Britain on Sept. 30 at 10:00 a.m. New Britain Police Department investigators located and interviewed witnesses and conducted a canvass in the area the vehicle was recovered.

Individuals interviewed were able to assist in this investigation in part due to their awareness of the incident because of media coverage and were able to identify a suspect and an arrest warrant was obtained.