On Tuesday, 01/24/2023, at approximately 9:38 p.m., Troopers assigned to Troop C and Ellington Officers responded to an address on West Road in Ellington, for a report of a stolen, red Chevrolet CK1500 pickup truck. According to the reporting party, the vehicle's last known direction of travel was westbound on Route 83, toward the Rockville/Vernon area. Troop C provided Vernon Police with a description of the pickup truck and asked that they be on the look-out for the vehicle.
As Troopers were speaking with the complainant, the Vernon Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen reporting that a suspicious red pickup truck had just parked in their apartment complex on Regan Street, in Vernon, and that a male had been seen exiting from the drivers side.
Troopers and Vernon Police Officers arrived at the apartment complex, located an unoccupied red pickup truck and confirmed it to be the same red Chevrolet CK1500 pickup truck which had been reported stolen. State Police K9 Drago was quickly deployed and led troopers to an exterior apartment door. Troopers and Vernon officers made contact with a resident of the apartment and located the suspect, identified as John Hansen, DOB 02/29/1964, of Willington, inside. During the investigation, Hansen was found to be in possession of the keys to the Chevrolet pickup. Troopers also observed that Hansen was exhibiting signs of possible impairment.
Hansen was subsequently taken into custody, and transported to Troop C in Tolland, where he agreed to participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which were not performed to standard. As a result, Hansen was processed and charged with the following:
C.G.S. 53a-124, Larceny in the 3rd Degree,
C.G.S. 53a-119b(a) Use of Motor Vehicle Without Permission
C.G.S. 14-227a, Operating a Motor Vehicle Under Influence of Alcohol/Drugs
C.G.S. 14-213b, Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Minimum Insurance
C.G.S. 14-12(a)* Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle
C.G.S. 14-36(a) Operating Without a License
Hansen was held on a $25,000.00 bond, transferred to Hartford Correctional Center, pending his arraignment at Rockville Superior Court, on 01/25/2023.
