2 People Kidnapped, Held At Knifepoint: West Hartford PD

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man is in jail after West Hartford police said he forced two people to get into a vehicle, drive to a store to buy him a new cellphone and held them at knifepoint.

Monday around 4:30 p.m., West Harford police said they responded to 1253 New Britain Ave. after they were notified that a man was holding two people at knifepoint at the Xfinity store.

Once on scene, police said they recovered a knife and took Alexandra Pennell, 28, of Hartford into custody.

During the course of the investigation, police said they determined the incident was domestic related and had originated in Hartford.

Prior to arriving at the store in West Hartford, police said Pennell assaulted one victim, then forced that person and a second person into a vehicle at knifepoint.

"The victims were forced to drive to the Xfinity store in West Hartford in order to purchase Pennell a new phone," police said in a news release.

While in the store, police said one of the victims was able to call 911 and alert police to the incident. The second victim had a protective order in place and had been recently assaulted, police said.

"It was determined that all parties were all known to each other," police said.

Pennell was arrested and charged with the following:

• Kidnapping in the 1st degree (2 counts)
• Unlawful Restraint 1st degree (2 counts)
• Criminal Attempt
• Robbery 1st degree (1 count)
• Threatening 2nd degree (1 count)
• Assault 3rd degree (1 count)
• Criminal Violation of a Protective Order (1 count)
• Breach of Peace 2nd degree (1 count)

Pennell was held on a $150,00.00 surety bond.