Ledyard Police Officers and K9 Commended for Apprehension of Armed Robber

Ledyard Police Officer Dan Gagnon, his K9 partner Ringo and Detective Richard Pasqualini (retired) were awarded last week, along with 20 other area police officers, for assisting in apprehending "two dangerous suspects," back in August 2010.

According to the police report, officers from Stonington Police Department responded to a call at Bestway Food Mart in Pawcatuck for an armed robbery. Officers gathered details about the suspect's vehicle and direction of travel, which was forwarded to area police departments, including Ledyard, Groton and the Connecticut State Police.

"Soon an alert officer McCarthy of Groton Town observed a vehicle matching the suspect's description and a pursuit ensued and the suspects vehicle crashed," according to the report. One person was taken into custody immediately and another suspect fled the scene into a wooded area.

The report said, "Ledyard K9 Unit tracked the suspect to a residence where the second suspect was taken into custody."

According to the Bulletin, "Tyrone Snowden, 34, of Norwich, and Patrick Mitiguy, 21, of Georgia, Vt., each were charged in connection with the robbery."

Both men were found guilty for first-degree robbery with a dangerous instrument, which is a felony. Snowden was sentenced to serve 10 years in jail and Mitiguy was given an 8-year jail sentence.

"It was a tremendous coordinated effort between the three agencies," said Gagnon. "I would give credit to the Groton Town department for setting up a great perimeter in a short amount of time, which allowed us to do our job."

Ledyard Detective Richard Pasqualini (retired) was commended for coordinating State and Ledyard units who were responding to the search and his continued contact with Stonington Detectives at the crime scene in Pawcatuck. Pasqualini also coordinated a search for evidence along the pursuit route with Groton patrol officers.