Police Trying to Connect Recent Gas Station Incidents

In the wake of three arrests for a weekend hold-up at a Vernon gas station and convenience store, state and local police are teaming up to piece together details about other convenience store robberies in the area. 

Lt. William Meier of the Vernon Police Department's detective division said on Tuesday that he would be discussing several cases involving gas station/convenience store robberies with state police and neighboring local departments. 

Lt. Scott Custer of the South Windsor Police Department said he is comparing notes with Vernon police regarding a weekend case in his town. 

Det. Scott Crevier of the State Police Troop C barracks in Tolland said he was also trying to determine if any recent robberies in his jurisdiction are connected. 

Vernon police made quick work of a robbery at the Valero station at 506 Talcottville Rd. in which a cash box was stolen, records indicate. 

Three men were arrested shortly after the 9:27 p.m. call. One was found near the station and two others were tracked down with the help of police dog Narko in a neighborhood close by. They were found on Kenneth Drive after bugging a resident to use a phone, a report indicates. 

Vernon police released the mug shots of those arrested on Monday. 

South Windsor police are investigating an alleged attempted robbery at the Getty Mart on Sullivan Avenue that took place at 3:46 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The suspect, a white male wearing a dark hooded jacket, ski mask and sunglasses, implied to the clerk that he was armed at the gas station at 561 Sullivan Ave., according to Chief of Police Matthew Reed.

The suspect, who did not take anything and may have been interrupted by a customer walking into the store, was last seen on foot in the field across from the gas station, according to Reed.

Custer said on Monday the incident could be connected to the Vernon Valero case. 

Those arrested in the Vernon Valero case are: 

Police said those arrested were: 

• Ryan Grzesiak, 19, of 410 Beelzebub Rd., South Windsor. Police said he has been charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief and possession of heroin. 

• Kyle Cormier, 21, of 54 Oak St., South Windsor. Police said he has been charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief and possession of heroin. 

• Gregory Canepa, 20, of 21 Phelps Rd., East Windsor. Police said his charges are first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, narcotics possession and possession of heroin paraphernalia.