A Connecticut guy accused of theft, armed kidnapping and fleeing police previous 7 days may well also have information and facts connected to a person who was performing as a DoorDash driver when he mysteriously disappeared a month in the past, law enforcement said.
Christopher Lemke, 33, was taken into law enforcement custody on Thursday following he allegedly took a person hostage at gunpoint in Danbury, Connecticut and ran from authorities.
Nevertheless, investigators now suspect he may possibly have precious information and facts about the independent disappearance of meals shipping and delivery driver Carlos Reyes, who vanished in late March.
Reyes, 20, was last noticed by his loved ones on the night of March 28. His 2008 gray Infiniti vehicle was afterwards located burning on the facet of a street in Outdated Milltown Highway near Brewster, New York — which is just 10 miles west of Danbury. No signals of Reyes have been located in the vicinity of the car fireplace, which took several firefighters to extinguish.
Carlos Reyes Photograph: Danbury Law enforcement Department
On April 14, City of Danbury police officers executed a lookup and seizure warrant relevant to the theft of a handgun Lemke was suspected of stealing. Upon arrival at the residence, Lemke allegedly ran from officers, who gave chase.
They misplaced Lemke soon after he sprinted to a wooded spot but, when he emerged from the woods, he allegedly illegally entered an unlocked house, took an personal hostage and then fled in a stolen motor vehicle, Danbury every day newspaper The Information-Occasions documented.
The 33-calendar year-aged was captured by point out legislation enforcement about 18 miles away in Southbury, Connecticut. He was allegedly in possession both equally of the stolen firearm for which police had been searching and of “other contraband,” Detective Lt. Mark Williams of the City of Danbury Police Section reported in a prepared statement.
City of Danbury Law enforcement now say Lemke may well also know one thing about Reyes’ disappearance.
“During their investigation, the Danbury Law enforcement Section investigators realized that Lemke could possibly have data similar to Carlos Reyes, a area male described missing at the finish of March 2022,” the City of Danbury Law enforcement Office added in a statement. “As Lemke was also immediately similar to the April 7 look for warrant execution at a Ball Pond Road home, investigators are hopeful he can provide them with information to help locate Reyes or his whereabouts.”
Authorities didn’t specify as to the character of the info which led them to suspect Lemke has information and facts about Reyes’ disappearance, nor what they were being searching for at the Ball Pond Street home — which is on the very north stop of Danbury.
Lemke is at the moment billed with reckless endangerment, legal possession of a pistol, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor auto, possession of a stolen firearm, evading police and reckless driving, courtroom documents attained by Oxygen.com show. He faces more drug possession and drug paraphernalia charges. The Danbury male is remaining held on a $1,000,000 bond. It can be unclear if he is retained authorized illustration.
Carlos Reyes’ automobile on fireplace. Image: Brewster Hearth Division
A spokesperson for each the Connecticut Condition Law enforcement and 1 for the Metropolis of Danbury Police Division were being not quickly offered to respond to inquiries about what feasible information Lemke may possibly have about Reyes’ disappearance.
Reyes is explained as currently being 5-feet and 10 inches tall and weighing 170 lbs. He has brown eyes and black hair.
Any individual with info related to the open up situation can make an nameless idea to the City of Danbury Police Division by contacting 203-790-Ideas.
