Danbury Police charged Pedro Calderon-Diaz, 44, Cottage Street, Danbury, with second-degree kidnapping, four counts of second-degree threatening, and three counts of risk of injury to a minor Tuesday after holding his girlfriend and children hostage.
Danbury Police Shift Commander David Cooney said police learned about the incident Tuesday when the victim, the mother of two of Calderon-Diaz's children, left their Cottage Street home supposedly for work, but came to the police department instead.
The trouble started Monday morning, when Calderon-Diaz called the woman's work Monday morning and told them she couldn't come to work because she was in the hospital. He kept her in their house all day and threatened the woman, saying she could never leave him or he'd kill her and her three children.
"She was not allowed to leave or call anyone," Cooney said.
On Tuesday she was allowed to go to work, Cooney said, "and she takes the chance and comes to us."
Calderon-Diaz was arraigned in Danbury Superior Court Wednesday. Judge Andrew Roraback issued a protective order preventing Calderon-Diaz from any contact with his children or the mother of his children. He was held on a $100,000 bond, and his next court appearance is scheduled for June 24.
In an unrelated case, Danbury Police charged Brian McGrath, 46, Prospect Street, Danbury, with breach of peace, hate crime, third-degree assault and third-degree attempted robbery Tuesday at 9:42 a.m.
Police said McGrath approached four Hispanic males on Elm Street and started yelling and cursing at them, telling them to get out of the country, they're taking his job and they don't belong here. He then struck one of the men and tried to take his watch. McGrath was held on a $50,000 bond, which was lowered to $25,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Danbury Superior Court Wednesday.
McGrath has a previous conviction for an assault against a public safety officer, EMT or health worker. He served 30 months for that charge, and was given five years of probation. Police said his probation officer has been alerted to Tuesday's charges.
In an unrelated incident, Police said an employee of UHaul saw a UHaul truck parked at the Toys R Us on Backus Avenue and called police. The truck had been earlier reported stolen after it wasn't returned on its due date. Police found the man in possession of the truck, John Zanesky, 47, Spring Street, Danbury, was the person who rented the truck. Zanesky was charged with first-degree larceny, theft of a motor vehicle. He was held on a $5,000 bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Danbury Superior Court Wednesday.
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