Police: Waterbury Man Accused of Stealing a Pizza Before Robbing a Woman, Causing Injury
A man has been arrested after police say he stole a pizza then robbed a woman, injuring her in the process.
According to the Waterbury Police Department, officers arrested 52-year-old Michael Thomas on Wednesday (February 19) following a pretty bizarre set of incidents that reportedly occurred the night prior.
On Tuesday night around 10:15 PM, officers were dispatched to the report of a robbery at 44 Center St. According to the 23-year-old male victim, he was simply walking back to his apartment with an always hot, always ready pizza from Little Caesars when he was approached by a man fitting Thomas' description, armed with a sharp metal object. Thomas then allegedly commanded the victim to set the pizza down and that the victim gets back into his own car. Rather than get back into the car, the victim told police that he set the pizza down on the ground and fled on foot.
The suspect then reportedly chased the victim on foot for a short distance before giving up on the pursuit to head back and take the pizza.
From there, the responding officers canvassed the surrounding neighborhoods, but were unable to locate the suspect.
Then, about 15 minutes later, officers responded to the nearby Courtyard by Marriott hotel after the report of a second robbery. Not only did the suspect in this robbery also match the Michael Thomas' description, but he was reportedly carrying a pizza box when he entered the hotel property. That's when things reportedly got even more intense.
Thomas allegedly followed a 66-year-old female into the hotel's elevator, and then continued to follow her when she arrived on the fourth floor.
As she entered her room, the victim was allegedly knocked down by Thomas, who police say was still armed with the sharp object. The victim says at that point, she started screaming and began to fight off the Waterbury man, suffering cuts to her hands in the process. Thomas then allegedly took cash from the victim’s purse and some of her jewelry.
When first responders arrived on the scene, the victim was transported to an area hospital where she was treated and released for non-life threatening injuries.
The detectives and forensics unit responded to assist in both of these robbery investigations, and on Wednesday morning around 9:30 AM, detectives and patrol units say they spotted Thomas, before being engaged in a foot pursuit. He was later apprehended by detectives and patrol officers on Holmes Avenue after trying to hide on a back porch.
Michael Thomas was arrested and charged with robbery for both incidents, larceny, unlawful restraint, assault, interfering with an officer, resisting arrest and criminal trespass. He was held on three bonds totaling $450,000.
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