CT state trooper, K-9 track wanted Winsted man into woods and make arrest

A Connecticut State Police trooper and his K-9 partner tracked a wanted Winsted man into the woods in New Hartford and arrested him, police said.

About 10:15 p.m. on Saturday, a New Hartford Police Department officer was doing a routine patrol near Main Street when he watched a vehicle drive behind a business that was closed. He talked to the driver and learned that he was trying to meet with a person who has several outstanding arrest warrants, according to Connecticut State Police.

Two Connecticut State Police Troopers and K9 Gordon responded to the scene and searched for the wanted man, 48-year-old Santo Consolini of Winsted, police said.

The trooper and K-9 tracked Consolini into a heavily wooded area where he was found and taken into custody without incident, police said.

Consolini was taken to CSP Troop B barracks in North Canaan and was charged with two counts of first degree failure to appear in court and two counts of second-degree failure to appear in court, police said.

According to court records, Consolini has multiple pending criminal cases. He was arrested by police in New Britain in June 2022 and charged with disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and failure to appear in court, and was arrested again later that month and in July 2022 and charged with violation of a protective order and failure to appear in court.

He was being held in lieu of bonds totaling $852,5000 and is scheduled to be arraigned in Torrington on Monday, police said.