Police Dog Helps Capture Fugitive With Felony Warrants In Somers: CSP

SOMERS, CT — A fugitive with five active felony arrest warrants out of New Jersey was arrested by state police Monday afternoon outside a business where he had been working in Somers.

Alfred Ricciuti, 41, was charged with being a fugitive from justice and interfering with an officer. He was originally held on bonds totaling $550,000; at his arraignment Tuesday in Rockville Superior Court, his bonds were lowered to $300,000, but he was not released from custody. He is currently being detained at Hartford Correctional Center, according to DOC records.

Around 3 p.m. Monday, the Clinton Police Department contacted Troop C in Tolland and requested assistance with locating Ricciuti in an active investigation. He had multiple extraditable arrest warrants out of New Jersey, and they believed he was working in Somers, state police said.

All five felony warrants against Ricciuti from New Jersey,containing charges of burglary, theft and resisting arrest, were authorized for extradition from Connecticut. Around 4:53 p.m., troopers conducting surveillance observed an individual matching Ricciuti's description in front of the business, police said.

The troopers confirmed it was Ricciuti and issued him clear verbal directives to get on the ground, but he refused to comply. Police canine Viper was subsequently deployed and apprehended Ricciuti, who was arrested without further incident. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained from the dog bite, police said.

Ricciuti is slated to return to court June 6.