Man Stole Car With Baby, 6 Months Old, Inside: Hamden Police

HAMDEN, CT — A Hamden man faces a kidnapping charge after police said he stole a car with a 6-month-old baby inside on Monday afternoon.

Richardson Wong-Aponte, 37, was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping, risk of injury to a minor and third-degree larceny. He was being held in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

The Yale University Police Department and New Haven police assisted with the arrest, according to Hamden Police Capt. Ronald Smith.

The incident happened around 4:15 p.m. in the area of Dixwell Avenue and Woodin Street. The driver had entered a store and left the keys to the vehicle in the ignition, according to Smith.

Wong-Aponte got into the vehicle and drove away heading south on Dixwell Avenue, according to Smith.

Smith said local and state authorities were notified and immediately assisted in the search. Central Communications was in the process of broadcasting an AMBER Alert, according to Smith.

A Yale University Police officer found the stolen vehicle in the area of 1 Whalley Ave. around 5:30 p.m.

Smith said the baby was found unharmed and Wong-Aponte was taken into custody.

Wong-Aponte, of Woodin Street, was additionally charged on four outstanding arrest warrants, two from West Haven and one each from Orange and Milford, according to Smith.

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