ESSEX, Conn. (WFSB) - State police have arrested a Deep River man for stealing a car from a plaza in Essex.
The car, a black Pontiac Grand Prix, was stolen from the parking lot area of the Bokum Plaza yesterday afternoon.
State police say the owner had been shopping in a nearby store and had left the Pontiac running.
A witness told the owner of the car that he saw a man on his cell phone standing beside some bushes while the Pontiac was running.
When the witness returned to the parking lot, both the Pontiac and the man were gone.
An Essex officer reviewed surveillance video and immediately recognized the man as 38-year-old David Hunter of Deep River.
"The Essex Officer showed the complainant a still photo of Hunter from the security camera footage, and the victim stated they also recognized Hunter, who did not have permission to take the vehicle," state police said.
The officer attempted to contact Hunter via phone and text message to encourage him to return the vehicle, but Hunter failed to respond.
The officer was tipped off that Hunter planned to leave the Pontiac at a church located somewhere between Deep River and Middletown.
The Pontiac was eventually located by state troopers and the Essex officer in the parking lot of a local church in Higganum.
The victim was notified and informed police that his car had new damage.
Hunter was later located hiding underneath a bridge on Depot Road.
According to state police, he admitted to taking the car but did not want to disclose where he placed the keys.
Hunter was taken into custody and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, criminal trover, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension.
Hunter was held on a $50,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled for arraignment today.