CT Man Accused Of Kidnapping 2 Children Charged In Stamford: Police

STAMFORD, CT — A Newington man accused of kidnapping two children and who was involved in an hours-long standoff with Stamford police last month is now facing charges in Stamford, police say.

John Lacen-Romero, 36, was brought from prison down to Stamford Tuesday where he was charged in an arrest warrant with first-degree unlawful restraint, two counts of risk of injury to a child, interfering with an officer, reckless driving, and engaging police in a pursuit, Assistant Stamford Police Chief Richard Conklin told Patch Wednesday. The arrest warrant comes with a bond of $100,000.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Sept. 21. On that date at approximately 12:10 p.m., Newington police were dispatched to a residence there for a reported domestic disturbance, the Newington Police Department said at the time.

Police accused Lacen-Romero of assaulting a woman at the residence.

"Following the incident, Lacen-Romero removed two juveniles from the home, placing them in a vehicle, and left the area," the NPD said.

Stamford police later located a vehicle wanted in connection with the incident around 1:45 p.m., according to police.

The suspect vehicle engaged Stamford police officers in a pursuit, struck several vehicles, and later became disabled in the roadway off of exit 7 of I-95, according to police.

Multiple units from different agencies, along with the assistance of drones, "responded and managed the incident for hours," Capt. Thomas Scanlon of the SPD said in a news release at the time.

Conklin said there were "intense and close negotiations with this father who was unfortunately holding his two minor children in a vehicle as hostages."

After several hours, officers intervened and rescued the children, and placed the driver, who was identified as Lacen-Romero, under arrest, police said.

Lacen-Romero faces numerous charges in Newington, according to the CT Judicial Branch website, including:

Three counts of first-degree unlawful restraint, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, two counts of risk of injury to a child, disorderly conduct, three counts of first-degree reckless driving, second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault, and second-degree criminal mischief.

The CT Judicial Branch website notes a bond of $750,000 on those charges. Lacen-Romero remains in custody.