CT man arrested after being found with missing teen in NYC

A New Haven man was arrested in New York over the weekend after authorities discovered he was with a missing teenager in Connecticut.

Officers received a “be on the lookout” alert for a suspect wanted in connection with a missing 15-year-old at 10:40 p.m. Sunday, shortly before being informed by Connecticut State Police that the phone The man's cell phone was ringing in the area of ​​Routes 17K and 747 in Montgomery, New York, according to John Hank, chief of the Montgomery Police Department.

Officers responded to the scene and found the suspect's vehicle, discovering he was the only person inside, Hank said. He was identified as Marcos Mendez, 24.

According to Hank, Mendez told authorities he told the missing teen to run as officers approached the vehicle. He was taken into custody as police began searching the area.

The search included a K-9 unit from the Middletown Police Department in New York and an officer piloting a drone. Hank said the K-9 drove on a trail for about an hour in a wooded area between Maple Lane and Ridge Road before the teen was found.

“She was found in good health and was transported to an area hospital for evaluation,” Hank said in a statement. “She was reunited with her family in the hospital.”

Mendez was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and arraigned before a judge in Newburgh, New York, court.

According to Hank, Mendez received an order of protection on behalf of the teen and was released.