Suspect In Kidnapping May Have Ties To Missing Danbury Man: Police

Danbury CT

16 April, 2022

11:17 AM

Description

DANBURY, CT — A man who led police on a chase Thursday may next lead them to clues in the disappearance of a man missing since the end of March. Investigators from the Danbury Police Department, in coordination with Newtown police, executed a search warrant at a Frontage Road residence in Newtown on Thursday. The warrant was related to an ongoing investigation of a handgun allegedly stolen by Christopher Lemke. Lemke fled the property through nearby woods as police were executing the warrant. Newtown police said he emerged in a nearby neighborhood, where he entered an unlocked home and kidnapped a person at gunpoint, fleeing the scene in a stolen car. The victim was able to escape a very short distance away and was not physically injured, according to the Newtown PD. Police tracked the stolen car traveling east on Interstate 84 near the Rochambeau Bridge. After a brief chase, the vehicle was involved in a crash near Exit 15 and the suspect was apprehended. He is currently in the state's custody, facing charges filed by the State Police, Newtown PD, and the Danbury PD. Police say they recovered the stolen handgun "and assorted other contraband" from Lemke. During their investigation, the Danbury Police Department investigators learned that Lemke might have information related to Carlos Reyes, a man reported missing at the end of March, according to Det. Lt. Mark Williams. Reyes, 20, was last seen by his family on Mar. 28 at approximately 11:00 p.m. Police found his car before midnight on March 29, fully engulfed in flames. Investigators said the extinguished car was unoccupied. Police executed a search warrant at Reyes' Ball Pond Road home on April 7. Williams said that Lemke was also directly related to the search warrant execution, and investigators are hopeful he can provide them with information to help locate Reyes or his whereabouts. Reyes is described as being 5-foot 10-inches tall, 170 lbs., fit build, brown eyes, brown hair and facial hair, no tattoos, and has piercings in both ears. When last seen, Reyes was wearing black sweatpants, a black sweater, and red "Uggs" slippers. He regularly wears three gold chains around his neck, each having a gold pendant. Anyone with information regarding Reyes' disappearance is asked to contact Det. Lt. Adam Marcus of the Danbury PD at [email protected] or or 203-796-1601. Anonymous tips can be made at 203-790-TIPS or by texting DANBURYPD at 847411 (Tip411). Anonymous web tips can also be submitted online directly here.