Attempted Carjacking At Dunkin Donuts Drive-Thru Leads To Arrest: PD

EAST HAVEN, CT — A man is accused of attempting to carjack a vehicle at the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru window at 704 Foxon Road.

At 7:44 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to an attempted carjacking in the drive-thru. The suspect, later identified as William Rodriguez, 28, of Portsea Street, New Haven, attempted to steal a vehicle from a female driver, police said.

"The incident began when Rodriguez pulled into the parking lot and parked his vehicle directly in front of the victim’s car while she waited at the drive-thru window," police said in a news release. "He then exited his vehicle, entered the victim’s car through the passenger door, and demanded her keys. When the victim refused, Rodriguez began punching her. The victim managed to escape and ran inside Dunkin Donuts to seek help."

"A female employee working at the drive-thru witnessed the attack and quickly alerted two male employees," police added. "The two employees rushed outside, where they confronted Rodriguez, who was struggling to operate the victim’s vehicle. They successfully removed him from the car and restrained him on the ground until police arrived."

Rodriguez was taken into custody after a brief struggle, police said. While receiving medical attention from an East Haven Fire Department medic, Rodriguez bit the medic’s hand, police said.

Rodriguez was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he remained under guard until being taken to the police department for processing, police said.

The vehicle Rodriguez was driving, a 2016 Hyundai Elantra had been reported stolen out of New Haven, police said. The New Haven Police Department took custody of the vehicle for further investigation.

William Rodriguez faces multiple charges, including:

• Breach of Peace, 2nd Degree
• Assault on Emergency Medical Personnel
• Robbery in the 3rd Degree
• Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree
• Assault on a Pregnant Person
• Assault in the 3rd Degree
• Interfering with an Officer
• 2 counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle

Rogriguez was held on a $250,000.00 bond for those charges.

Rodriguez also had multiple outstanding arrest warrants totaling $475,000 and two outstanding warrants from CSP Troop A and Troop I, police said.

"The East Haven Police Department commends the quick and courageous actions of the Dunkin Donuts employees, who helped bring this dangerous situation under control," police said.

photo via East Haven police