2 people arrested after break-in at tobacco shop in Meriden

2 people arrested after break-in at tobacco shop in Meriden.

MERIDEN, Connecticut (WTNH) – Meriden police said a tobacco store burglary suspect and his alleged getaway driver were arrested earlier this week.

On June 18, around 10 p.m., officers were dispatched to the LVL Up Smoke Shop at 680 N. Colony Road because a burglar alarm went off.

Once on scene, an officer found a man inside the closed store but waiting outside for backup. Before additional officers arrived, the suspect left the store and fled into the woods behind the building when he saw the officer who had ordered him to stop.

According to police, the suspect dropped a large garbage container and a cash register while fleeing.

The officer pursued the suspect but lost sight of him in the woods. A sniffer dog was deployed and the man was eventually arrested. At that point, police say, he was found in possession of brass knuckles that opened into a knife.

While the man was being pursued, officers also observed a woman in a white BMW who they said was driving around the area in a suspicious manner. Officers assumed she was there to arrest the burglary suspect. When approached, she claimed to know nothing about the incident.

Police said they determined that the man broke into the store through the ceiling of the building and that the woman was actually there to pick him up because the suspect contacted her on her cellphone.

Williams Maaseiyh, 28, of Norwich, was charged with first-degree burglary, fourth-degree theft, first-degree criminal damage to property, carrying a dangerous weapon and obstructing a police officer. His bail was set at $100,000.

According to police, Maaseiyh also had two outstanding PRAWN warrants out of New London with bail amounts totaling $1.25 million for first-degree assault, various firearms offenses, burglary, theft and malicious damage to property.

Latazia Cluff, 28, of New London, was charged with obstructing a police officer and bail was set at $10,000.