Yale Police officers are being called heroes after locating a stolen car with a 6-month-old baby inside, according to a News8 report.
Hamden Police in New Haven, Connecticut, received a call last week reporting a stolen vehicle with a baby inside. Richardson Wong-Aponte, 37, jumped into the car and drove off after the owner of the vehicle left the keys in the ignition while entering a store.
Hamden police and other agencies across the state immediately responded to the call. Yale University Police Officers Maurice Staggers and Otilio Green spotted the car just as Central Communications was broadcasting an AMBER alert, and followed it to a gas station just over an hour after the vehicle was reported stolen. Officer Green then arrested the suspect while Officer Staggers placed the baby, who was in a car seat and fortunately unharmed, into their patrol car.
When asked about their emotions at the time, Officer Green said that they had to place themselves in the mother and father’s shoes. “We’re just happy we found him!”
The father rushed over to the gas station and held the baby in his arms. Officer Green said “it was a relief.” As fathers themselves, the officers said it was gratifying to see that there was a happy ending to the terrifying incident.
Wong-Aponte was held on a $250,000 bond. He was also charged with four outstanding arrest warrants.
Photos courtesy of the Yale University Police Department