Justin Diaz Warrant

.ARREST WARRANT APPLICATION

For Court Use Only

STATE OF CONNECTICUT SUPERIOR COURT

}D-CR-64b' Rev. 10-1 O C.G.S. § 54-2a Pr. Bk. Sec. 36-1, 36-2, 36-3

www.jud.ct.gov

Supporting Affidavits sealed

D

Agency name

Police Case number

19-002964 Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Diaz, Justin

D

Yes

No

Agency number

IMeriden Police Department IMeriden

Residence (Town) of accused

I080 Court to be held at (Town)

INew Haven

I

Geographical

Area number

07

Application For Arrest Warrant To: A Judge of the Superior Court The undersigned hereby applies for a warrant for the arrest of the above-named accused on the basis of the facts set forth in the: Affidavit Below. ffidavit(s) Attached.

t8J

D

Affidavit The undersigned affiant, being duly sworn, deposes and says:

1.

The Affiant, Detective Angelo Stavrides, being duly sworn, does depose and state he is a member of the Meriden Police Department. Furthermore, that he has been a member of said Department for approximately seventeen years prior to the date hereof, and at all times mentioned herein was acting as a member of said Department and also the following facts and circumstances are stated from personal knowledge and observation, as well as information received from brother Officers, acting in their official capacities.

2.

On April 19, 2019 at approximately 0111 hours, Meriden Police were dispatched to 126 Foster Street on the report of a disturbance / fighting in the area. Upon arrival at this location Officers encountered three males subjects, one of whom was identified as Justin Diaz (D.O. B.12/15/1989) putting his jacket back on, indicative to them of likely recent fighting behavior.

Diaz was wearing a green army camouflage jacket,,with a white durag on his head. One subject stated that he is a bouncer at Mr. Bentley's Cafe, which is around the corner at 190 Grove Street. He saw a large crowd forming, so he came outside to make sure everyone was ok. No persons made complaints while Police were on scene there, and after a brief investigative detention, all three subjects, including Diaz, were free to leave.

3.

On April 19, 2019, at approximately 0230 hours, Meriden Police were dispatched to a shots 'fired call on North First Street, that was quickly determined by responding Officers to be 57 South First Street. As Officers arrived there were multiple people fleeing from a large gathering that had taken place in the backyard area of that location. Officers found later to be identified Jan Carlos Delacruz (DOB 02-08-1985) in the driveway, laying on his back, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Delacruz was transported by ambulance to Hartford Hospital with life threatening injuries. He will hereafter be referred to as the victim.

4.

Officers secured the scene after discovering evidence of a shooting during a protective sweep of the detached garage in the rear yard of 57 South First Street. There was an expended {This is page 1 of a 4 page Affidavit.)

Date

Subscribed and sworn to before me on (Date)

Jurat

J-,2··

Finding The foregoing Application for an arrest warrant, and affidavit(s) attached to said Application, having been submitted to and considered by the undersigned, the undersigned finds from said affidavit(s) that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the accused committed it and, therefore, that probable cause exists for the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of the above-named accused.

ARRES;r WARRANT APPLICATION JD-CR-64a Rev. 10-10 C.G.S. ยง 54-2a Pr. Bk. Sec. 36-1, 36-2, 36-3

STATE OF CONNECTICUT SUPERIOR COURT www.jud.ct.gov

Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Residence (Town) of accused

Court to be held at (Town)

Geographical

Diaz, Justin

Meriden

New Haven

Area number

07

Affidavit - Continued bullet on the floor of the garage, a shell casing, and a trail of a blood droplets that lead to where the victim was located in the driveway.

5.

Officer Case spoke with the resident of 57 South First Street, Betsy Gonzalez (D.O.B. 08/16/1993). Gonzalez is a bartender at Mr. Bentley's Cafe, and said that she knew that an argument at the bar had occurred earlier that same night. Gonzalez explained that she did not know what the argument was about or who the argument was between. Gonzalez said that after 'the bar closed, she had friends come back to her house for a gathering. She then became uncooperative, and Police were unable to obtain any further information from her. Officer Case identified a juvenile witness on scene. This juvenile witness.was later interviewed at the Meriden Police Department.

6.

The juvenile witness told Detective Wagner among many other things that the juvenile witness was inside Mr. Bently's Cafe, 190 Grove Street in Meriden and observed the victim and the suspect arguing about who was a real Latin King or not. The juvenile witness stated the suspect was wearing a white durag, with a camouflage jacket. The juvenile witness stated that after the bar closed, the juvenile witness left and went to Sam's Food Store, 343 West Main Street, in Meriden. The juvenile witness stated that suspect showed up to Sam's Food Store, being driven by a female this juvenile witness only knew as "Stephanie", in a grey vehicle. The juvenile witness stated that the suspect and victim argued there as well. The juvenile witness is friends with the victim and has known him for several years.

7.

The juvenile witness and victim then went to 57 South First Street, and went inside the garage with approximately fifteen other persons. No more than fifteen minutes later, the suspect showed up wearing among other clothing a white durag on his head, and a camouflage colored jacket. This was the same clothing worn by Justin Diaz, who was stopped earlier by Police. The juvenile witness stated that inside the garage the victim and the suspect instantly start arguing again about being real Latin Kings. The two were arguing face to face when the suspect produced a handgun, and shot at the victim approximately seven times. The suspect then fled out the garage side door, and ran towards Hanover Street.

8. The juvenile witness was shown a photo lineup of suspects that included Justin Diaz. The lineup was administered by a uninvolved Detective who at that time did not know who the suspect was, and who did not create the lineup. The juvenile witness positively identified Diaz, as the shooter of the victim. ,.

9.

Detective Sgt. Hector Cardona, Jr. later interviewed Stephanie Ramirez. She was initially located at 57 South First Street while she was asking to retrieve her pocketbook from a parked grey Toyota Echo in the driveway, within the crime scene area.

(This is page 2 of a 4 page Affidavit.)

Signed (Affiant)

Date

Subscribed and sworn to before me on (Date)

Jurat

5 ... ;l,_ .. /

ARRESJ WARRANT APPLICATION JD-CR-64a Rev. 10-10 C.G.S. ยง 54-2a Pr. Bk. Sec. 36-1, 36-2, 36-3

STATE OF CONNECTICUT SUPERIOR COURT www.jud.ct.gov

Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Residence (Town) of accused

Court to be held at (Town)

Geographical

Diaz, Justin

Meriden

New Haven

Area number

07

Affidavit - Continued 10. Ramirez stated among other things that she met "Justin" tonight at Mr. Bently's Cafe for the first time. After the bar closed, she drove Michelle Jorge's Toyota Echo to Sam's Food Store, while "Justin" and the juvenile witness, argued inside the vehicle. Jorge was in the front seat, too intoxicated to drive. When they got to Sam's Food Store, "Justin" and the male later identified as the victim, who was also there, argued in the parking lot. After the argument "Justin" got back into the car, Ramirez drove, while Jorge was a passenger. Ramirez stated that she took a right out of the parking lot of Sam's Food Store, and that "Justin" was telling her where to go. She said they drove onto Chamberlain Highway, through the Westfield mall access road, onto Kensington Avenue where she eventually dropped him off..

11.

Ramirez described where she dropped him off as the "S curves". It should be noted that this area of Kensington Ave. has ans shaped curve to it. She stated that during the ride, "Justin" was on his phone and that the only thing she could make out in English was, "you got my back?". She assumed that he was calling his friends for a ride or something. Ramirez stated that once she stopped the car, "Justin" told her not to follow him and to turn around and go back the way she came. She made au-turn and traveled to the after party, at 57 South First Street. According to Google Maps, this area of the "s" curves on Kensigton Avenue, to 57 South First Street, is approximately 2 miles away, if traveling by car.

12. When Ramirez arrived at 57 South First Street, she pulled into the driveway. Shortly thereafter she saw "Justin" walk up the driveway toward the rear of the house where the garage is located. She stated that she then heard females calling her name so she went to the back yard, and noticed tensions were getting high so she went to her vehicle, and that's when she heard the gun shots. She stated she did not see the male later identified as the victim get shot, or where "Justin" went after the shooting.

13. Ramirez was shown a photo lineup of suspects that included Justin Diaz. She made a positive identification of him as the male subject she described as having just met that evening at Mr. Bently's Cafe, whom she gave a ride to a location he requested after leaving Sam's Food Store. In her confidence statement to Officer Pabon she states this was the last time she saw Diaz. Ramirez did not provide a clothing description in this confidence statement.

14. On April 22, 2019, Michelle Jorge contacted Police to retrieve a cell phone that had been located inside her Toyota Echo and seized. She provided a written statement that among other things, she was with Ramirez while she drove "the guy" (presumabley Justin Diaz) from Mr. Bently's Cafe, to Sam's Food Store. She stated Ramirez dropped him off in front of Tiffany's Cordial, which is located at 66 Kensingnton Avenue in Meriden. According to Google Maps the driving distance between the two locations is 2.2 miles. Jorge does not know Diaz, did not provide a clothing description, and did not feel that she could pick him out of a photo lineup.

(This is page 3 of a 4 page Affidavit.)

Date

Signed (Affiant)

ARRES,T WARRANT APPLICATION :J'D-C:R-64a Rev. 10-10 C.G.S. ยง 54-2a Pr. Bk. Sec. 36-1, 36-2, 36-3

STATE OF CONNECTICUT SUPERIOR COURT www.jud.ct.gov

Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)

Residence (Town) of accused

Court to be held at (Town)

Geographical

Diaz, Justin

Meriden

New Haven

Area number

07

Affidavit - Continued 15. Jorge stated that after arriving with Ramirez at 57 South First Street, she eventually got out of the car and went to the back yard where others were. Jorge stated after a while an argument started and she went into the garage to get Ramirez so they could leave. She stated once she got Ramirez, the two went back to her car and then heard a lot of gun shots, and saw people fleeing.

16. On April 25, 2019, the Affiant went to Hartford Hospital to attempt to speak with the victim.

He was extremely uncooperative, and told the Affiant to leave. The Affiant then called Justin Diaz, but there was no answer. A message was left providing the Affiant's name and telephone number, and a request to call back.

17. A COLLECT records check indicated that Justin Diaz is not issued a permit to carry pistols or revolvers, in the State of Connecticut.

18. Justin Diaz is described as a Hispanic male born on December 15, 1989. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs 150 pounds. He has black hair, and brown eyes. Diaz is issued suspended Connecticut driver license# 128394267, SPBI # CT01176980, and FBI# 774431AE8.

Wherefore your Affiant has probable cause to believe that Justin Diaz did commit the crimes of Assault in the First Degree, Carrying a Pistol or Revolver without a Permit, Unlawful Discharge of Firearms, Criminal Use of a Firearm, Reckless Endangerment, and Risk of Injury to a Minor, in violation of sections 53a-59, 29-35, 53-203, 53a-216, 53a-63, 53-21, respectively, of the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut.

(This is page 4 of a 4 page Affidavit.)

Signed (Affiant)