Police: CT Man Arrested for Manslaughter After Robbery Partner Dies
A local man has been arrested after police say he was involved in an attempted robbery in Prospect late last year. He may even be held responsible for the death of his alleged partner in crime.
According to a press release from the Connecticut State Police, 56-year-old Alton Woods of Waterbury was already in custody on unrelated charges when he was arrested on Tuesday (January 22) at Waterbury Superior Court. He is accused of being one of the suspects in the " href="http://kicks1055.com/customer-kills-suspect-during-armed-robbery-in-connecticut/">widely publicized attempted robbery at Route 69 Auto Sales in Prospect, in which the other alleged assailant was shot and killed by a bystander
As previously reported, a legally licensed to carry bystander shot and killed an allegedly armed suspect, who was later identified as 44-year-old Torrance Battle of Waterbury, during the robbery on November 30, 2018.
During the robbery, police say two masked men armed with handguns entered the auto sales shop through the back door, went into the customer service area and began pistol whipping the shop's owner and a few of the employees.
At that time, a customer, who was watching the assault, reportedly drew his legally registered firearm and shot at the assailants, before the two suspects ran off through the rear of the business.
The CT State Police say that when troopers brought a K-9 team to the scene, Torrance Battle was found with gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased in close proximity to the auto sales shop.
Now, after a thorough investigation by the State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, they believe Alton Woods was the second robbery suspect. Troopers executed the warrant that was issued for his arrest. Because Battle was killed during the attempted robbery, the State Police believe Woods should be held responsible for his death, charging the Waterbury man with manslaughter.
Aside from manslaughter in the first degree, Alton Woods has been charged with robbery, unlawful restraint, assault, criminal possession of a firearm and conspiracy. He was held at Waterbury Superior Court for same-day arraignment on a $1,000,000 court set bond.