Police: Unhappy customer threatens to shoot Wendy's worker in CT

Sep 08, 2023

Windsor Locks police say two of three suspects were arrested with drugs and guns after leading police on a car chase from the Wendy's on Route 75.

WINDSOR LOCKS — Police say a dissatisfied customer threatened to shoot a Wendy's employee before he and two others led officers on a chase Monday night.

Windsor Locks police said Govanni Isiah Nelson, 20, of Springfield Gardens, N.Y., was charged with first-degree threatening, possession of a controlled substance, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal possession of weapons in a motor vehicle, illegal possession of a large magazine, interfering with police, sale of narcotics and breach of peace.

Police said Kenneth Raheem Harris, 20, of Hartford, was charged with illegal possession of a large magazine, possession of a controlled substance, interfering with police, illegal sale of cannabis, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, breach of peace and carrying a pistol without a permit. Police said bonds were set at $100,000 for each man and they appeared in court Tuesday.

Officers were called Monday about a dispute at the Wendy's on Route 75 where a man threatened to shoot the employees, police said. The suspect left in a BMW with two other men, police said.

"Officers were informed that the suspects ordered food via the drive-thru and were dissatisfied," police said. "They went into Wendy's under the guise of making a food complaint. Suspects threatened to shoot the employees and stick a gun into the mouth of one of the employees. A gun was seen by employees inside of the suspect vehicle when it was positioned underneath the drive-thru window."

Police said officers spotted the suspects in their vehicle and pursued them onto Route 20 east where officers used stop sticks to deflate their tires. However, police said the driver did not stop and continued onto Interstate 91 South. Police said the driver tried several times to ram their cruisers during the pursuit.

"As they approached Exit 38A, the tires began to deflate/disintegrate," police said. "The suspects fled the vehicle, and it rolled back into a cruiser, causing minor damage."

Police said the suspects fled into a wooded area between the highway and Lamberton Road in Windsor, noting all three of them jumped a fence to escape as Windsor Locks and State Police officers were chasing them on foot. They said Nelson was captured first by an officer who found him concealed in the wooded area.

"The other two suspects, possibly armed, continued to evade police using the wooded area and dusk to dark conditions concealing their movement," police said. "The WLPD K-9 was deployed. He located and apprehended Harris."

Police said Harris had a small, black bag near him that was recovered by a police dog. Police said the bag contained a white powder, which spewed into the air, contaminating the K-9 officer and his dog, Rocko.

"The concern was the possibility of fentanyl being in the white powder mix of suspected illegal narcotics, which can be fatal," they said. "Both were treated and released."

State police deployed a drone and a helicopter, police said, but were not able to find the third suspect. They said the vehicle was taken into police custody and a search found about 90 grams of crack, a 40 caliber Glock pistol with an extended magazine, suspected narcotics packaged for sale and drug paraphernalia.

Police said officers conducted a daylight follow-up search of the area where the suspects were apprehended and a second handgun was located in the wooded area.

"Investigation remains underway to verify a link between the newly discovered handgun and the suspects in this incident," police said.