3rd Man Suspected In 2024 Carmax Burglary, Arrested, Charged By Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — A year ago, police said they knew the identity of the third suspect in connection with the March 2024 burglary at Carmax on Frontage Road. Wednesday, East Haven police said a third New Britain man was arrested and faces nearly a dozen charges in the Carmax burglary.

Ethan Nieves, 22, was formally charged via an arrest warrant affidavit, according to East Haven police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo.

The case began in the winter of 2024.

During the investigation, East Haven police detectives went to a house in New Britain "in execution of a search and seizure warrant." Murgo said the "investigation identified a resident of that address as being responsible for multiple burglaries and vehicle thefts across Connecticut, working alongside several accomplices."

While watching the house, police saw several people leaving, Murgo said. They were en route to East Haven, according to Murgo, "where they carried out the Carmax burglary."

During the initial incident, two were taken into custody, but the third suspect got away. Now, Nieves has been charged with:

Burglary 3rd Degree (53A-103)

Conspiracy to Commit Burglary 3rd Degree (53A-48/53A-103)

Criminal Mischief 1st Degree (53A-115)

Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Mischief 1st Degree (53A-48/53A-115)

Criminal Trover 1st Degree (53A-126A)

Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Trover 1st Degree (53A-48A/53A-126A)

Larceny of a Motor Vehicle – 1st Offense (53A-119C)

Conspiracy to Commit Larceny of a Motor Vehicle – 1st Offense (53A-48/53A-119C)

Possession of Burglar Tools (53A-106)

Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree (53A-108)

Interfering with an Officer/Resisting Arrest (53A-167A)

Nieves was held on a $250,000 bond and was arraigned Wednesday.

Original story from March 2024:

During the 2024 investigation, Detective Jon Trinh identified a resident living in the house as being responsible for committing numerous burglaries and car thefts throughout Connecticut, along with several other accomplices, according to Murgo.

During that time, investigators saw a Volkswagen Tiguan and other vehicles pull up, with several people getting into the VW and leaving, the police captain said.

Meanwhile, just after 4 a.m., there was a burglary in progress at Carmax on West Frontage Road. Police saw people go onto the property in a gray VW, identified as the Tiguan from New Britain stakeout, according to Murgo.

Murgo said they used a "vehicle on the Carmax property to ram the gate and proceed to steal two vehicles from the lot — a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2018 Chevy Silverado."

"At 5:41 a.m. with officers from many agencies in place conducting surveillance, the stolen Chevy Silverado was observed entering the driveway of 125 Pleasant St. New Britain, at which point three people" were seen getting out of the truck, Murgo said.

Officers moved to arrest the three when they took off running and cops gave chase, grabbing up two men, Murgo said.

Eric Ruiz, 26, of New Britain, and Alex Sierra, 31, of New Britain were caught with a third person getting away. Murgo said Ruiz was in possession of a 9mm Glock handgun which had been reported stolen out of Tampa, Florida in 2021.

Ruiz and Sierra were taken into custody and transported to the East Haven Police Department for processing.

Ruiz was charged with:

• Burglary in the Third Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-103
• Conspiracy to Commit Burglary in the Third Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-48/53a-103.
• Criminal Mischief in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-115.
• Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Mischief in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-48/53a-115.
• Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Trover in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-126a.
• Two (2) counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-119c.
• Two (2) counts of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny of a Motor Vehicle in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-48/53a-119c.
• Possession of Burglary Tools in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-106
• Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-108
• Interfering with a Police Officer in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-167a
• Carrying a Pistol without a Permit in violation of Connecticut General Statute 29-35(a)(1)
• Theft of a Firearm in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-212,
• Criminal Possession of a Firearm in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-217c.

Ruiz also had several active arrest warrants with a total bond of $300,000 and an arrest warrant out of Newtown Police Department for $20,000. Ruiz is also scheduled to appear in court March 20.
Sierra was charged with:

• Interfering with a Police Officer in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-167a
• Larceny of a Motor Vehicle in violation of Connecticut General Statute 53a-119c.