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01/03/2017 10:31 AMJanuary 2, 2017: Branford Police arrested Christopher Pruitt (DOB 6/10/1979) of 129 Park Street, West Haven, after he assaulted and held three people against their will on New Year's Eve day.
On December 31st, at about 4 a.m., police responded to a 911 hang-up call at Motel 6, 320 East Main Street. Lieutenant Patrick O'Malley, who commands the midnight shift, said that responding officers originally located three males and two females in the motel room. During their initial response, officers were told that a minor dispute had occurred and officers left the motel without any further action. It wasn't until a second report from an occupant in the room that Officer Ryan Gotowala, who investigated the incident, learned that Pruitt and a friend had originally entered the room, uninvited and robbed, assaulted and held the two woman and their male acquaintance captive.
Police arrested Pruitt and he was taken into custody, however the man who originally entered the room with Pruitt had since left prior to the officers' second arrival.
Pruitt was charged with Robbery First Degree, Breach of Peace, Assault Third Degree, Threatening Second Degree, Interfering with a 911 Call, Strangulation Second Degree, Larceny Sixth Degree, and three counts of Unlawful Restraining First Degree.
Pruitt was held on a $100,000 bond and arraigned in New Haven Court on Tuesday, January 3, at 10:00 a.m.