Police report that on the morning of December 27, they arrested Bryan Gomez, 18, of Newtown, on a warrant at Connecticut Superior Court in Danbury, charging him with third-degree larceny, which is a felony, in connection with an October 1 incident in Sandy Hook. Gomez was at court that day in connection with other pending criminal charges against him.

Gomez stole a Volkswagen Jetta sedan in Danbury and then got into an accident while driving the Volkswagen on Interstate 84 on October 1. He then got off the highway and abandoned the damaged vehicle near the intersection of Pole Bridge Road and Bancroft Road in Sandy Hook, fleeing the scene, according to police.

The police search for the fleeing Gomez that afternoon triggered a Code Red warning on the town’s public alert system.

In court on December 27, Gomez pleaded not guilty to the larceny charge. He is scheduled to return to court on January 17.