Teens Caught in Brazen Robbery in Front of Southington PD

Two Southington teens are facing robbery and larceny charges after a man was robbed in the parking lot of Southington Police headquarters.

The incident was captured on the department's security surveillance video system about 6:11 p.m., March 19, according to a police report.

"As Southington Police dispatchers were monitoring the SPD video surveillance in the front parking lot, they observed what appeared to be an altercation. Dispatchers requested that officers respond to the parking lot," according to the report. Dispatchers were able to record the license plate number of one of the vehicles involved left the scene, according to police.

Southington detectives located and stopped the vehicle with four people — including the two suspects, at the intersection of Lazy Lane and Curtiss Street. 

According to police, the victim was followed by two males as he walked through the police headquarters parking. The victim told police that as he got into a vehicle, the suspects approached and demanded money. According to the victim, the suspects said they had firearms, they would use them and they would kill the victim's family if they were caught, police said. The suspects then attempted to go through the victim's pockets looking for money. The victim took his wallet out of a backpack and the juvenile "snatched" $22 from the victim's hand, police said. 

The suspects were identified as Corey Maerz, 18, and a 17-year-old, who was not identified because of his age. Maerz was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, second-degree threatening, breach of peace and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. According to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website, Maerz is being held on $75,000 and is scheduled to appear April 11 in state Superior Court in Bristol.

The juvenile was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree threatening, sixth-degree larceny and breach of peace. He was held in juvenile detention.

According to police, the pair was waiting for two friends who were at the station on an unrelated police matter and were unaware of the incident. The $22 was not recovered and police did not indicate whether any weapons were found on the suspects.