Man Charged In Home Invasion Where Pricey Cat Was Targeted: Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — An arrest was made in the March 17 home invasion where a man forced his way into a residence on Thompson Street, allegedly in search of a high-dollar value feline, police said.

William Pagan, 23, of New Haven was charged with home invasion, conspiracy to commit home invasion, first-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree threatening, and sixth-degree larceny, police spokesperson Capt. Joseph. M. Murgo said.

The arrest followed an investigation by Detective Jon Trinh, who secured a warrant for Pagan. With the assistance of the West Haven Police Department, Pagan was taken into custody without incident, Murgo said.

Pagan, held on a $750,000 court-set bond, faced a judge Tuesday morning.

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EAST HAVEN, CT —A homeowner foiled an attempted home invasion where the suspects were trying to steal an expensive cat, police said.

On Sunday, police received a 911 call from a resident in the 180 block of Thompson Street reporting a home invasion involving two armed suspects who had just fled the area in a blue BMW, Police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said.

At 3:46 p.m., two men tried to enter their residence through a rear slider door, police said.

"The resident stated attempts were made to prevent the two suspects from entering the house, but they were unsuccessful after one of the suspects kicked through the slider’s glass pane," police said in a news release. "Once inside the residence, the two suspects brandished a firearm and demanded the resident’s high dollar value cat. After several minutes of searching the house for the cat, a resident fought off the intruders, who fled the residence in a blue BMW. It should be noted that the suspects were unsuccessful in their attempts to steal the feline in question."
Police said the investigation led them to Hamden, where the BMW was found.

"The investigation revealed that this was a targeted attack between individuals familiar with each other. This was not a random incident and detectives are following up on several leads. No injuries were reported during this incident, which remains under investigation," Murgo said.