Police on Tuesday arrested a 31-year-old Norwalk man and charged him with criminal attempt of murder.
Mynor Romeo Alvarado-Canahui of 37 Woodward Ave., Apt. A2, additionally was charged with first-degree assault and first-degree kidnapping after striking a woman with his car as she walked on Valley Road and then, after he was unable to put her into the rear of his vehicle, trying to drown her, according to a police report.
A witness to the drowning attempt in the area of 1037 Valley Road called 9-1-1 at about 4:09 p.m. on May 25, the report said. Alvarado-Canahui dragged her down an embankment to a wooded area not visible from the road and held her head underwater, it said.
He released her when three witnesses began yelling at him, and responding officers took Alvarado-Canahui into custody on Valley Road after arriving on the scene, police said. He was held on $500,000 bond and scheduled to appear Tuesday in state Superior Court in Bridgeport.
The victim was transported to Norwalk Hospital by New Canaan Emergency Medical Services, police said. Her condition was not immediately known, though she was able to tell police some of what had happened prior to the murder attempt (see below).
“Given that Alvarado is in custody, and that this is an isolated, random crime, there is no threat to the New Canaan community,” Lt. Jason Ferraro, NCPD’s public information officer, said in a press release. “We understand that this incident will cause concern, and as a result, we will intensify our patrols throughout town to reassure our community that New Canaan is a safe town with a very low crime rate.”
The incident occurred on the one-year anniversary of what authorities have classified as the murder of New Canaan mom Jennifer Dulos by her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos.
It happened on the east side of Valley Road, between the intersections of Pond View Lane and Benedict Hill Road, near tributaries that connect with the Silvermine River further south.
According to police, responding officers found the victim “sitting on the ground surrounded by three individuals who were witnesses to the attempted drowning.” Police found a red Honda Civic with a Connecticut license plate parked, partially blocking the driveway of 1037 Valley Road. It “had visible damage to the front left windshield,” according to Ferraro’s press release.
“Standing to the rear of the car was Alvarado,” it said. “The three witnesses identified Alvarado as the male who attempted to drown the victim.”
The victim had been walking south along Valley Road, on the northbound side facing traffic and she recalled seeing Alvarado-Canahui’s car pass her several times, the report said.
“The victim stated that she thought that the driver of this vehicle might be lost but remembered the license plate’s first two letters,” it said. “The license plate letters recalled by the victim matched Alvarado’s vehicle.”
Ferraro’s report continued: “The victim stated that she did not know Alvarado and that she has never seen him before this incident. The victim said that while walking on Valley Road, she was struck from behind by Alvarado’s vehicle. The investigation determined that Alvarado’s vehicle was traveling southbound on Valley Road and crossed over the double yellow line traveling southbound in the northbound lane and struck the victim from behind as she was walking. The victim’s head hit the windshield.”
Connecticut Judicial Branch records show that Alvarado-Canahui had been arrested on criminal and motor vehicle charges in 2019. Those matters are pending. It isn’t clear what he was charged with, as the records have been sealed.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Sgt. Peter Condos of the New Canaan Police Investigative Section at 203-594-3522. Additionally, witnesses who were in the area of Valley Road or surrounding streets on May 25, 2020, between 2 and 4:15 p.m. who saw a red Honda Civic, should contact Sgt. Condos. Police also request that residents in the area of 1037 Valley Road contact Sgt. Condos if they have surveillance video that captures Valley Road.
[NewCanaanite.com is updating this article with additional information from New Canaan Police.]
There’s something wrong with our criminal justice system that this guy wasn’t locked up in 2019. The public is entitled to an answer from the new State’s Attorney. We should insist on it forthwith.