The man who barricaded himself in a Beaver Brook apartment Wednesday in Ansonia faces six criminal charges after the strange incident.
Police identified the man Thursday morning as Nelson Serrano, 31. He lives in one of the Beaver Brook units on Woodbridge Avenue.
Serrano refused to come out of an apartment Wednesday, causing a standoff with police.
However, everything ended peacefully after about three hours, with Serrano leaving the residence to hug a friend and surrender.
Click the video to watch Serrano give up.
In a prepared statement released Thursday, police said they were sent to Beaver Brook after receiving a report of a man acting strangely in the parking lot.
Serrano was yelling and swearing, according to witnesses. Police said he allegedly tried to hug and kiss a man in the parking lot.
In addition, police said Serrano inappropriately touched a 19-year-old woman, followed her toward her apartment, forced his way in, then tried to hug and kiss her.
In a story published Wednesday, neighbors talked about the bizarre behavior with the Valley Indy, saying Serrano had never acted that way before.
Eric Morris, a resident of the complex and the father of the 19-year-old woman Serrano is accused of assaulting, told the Valley Indy that Serrano had initially attacked his daughter in the parking lot.
Morris was at work in Danbury at the time of the incident, but rushed to his home after his daughter called him.
“He picked her up and dropped her on the ground,” Morris said.
The daughter fled into Morris’ apartment, where Serrano allegedly forced his way in before leaving and going to his own apartment, Morris said.
Neighbor Richard Phill said Serrano tried to attack him in the parking lot.
“He came up on me and grabbed me,” Phill said.
Phill got away from the man, who he suspected was under the influence of drugs.
“He said ‘You can’t hurt me, I’m god,’” Phill said.
Serrano’s erratic behavior continued when he entered an apartment and wouldn’t come out when police arrived.
Cops received at least two 911 calls about Serrano’s behavior.
Police flooded the area, surrounding the complex where Serrano was holed up and cordoning off Woodbridge Avenue between Beaver Street and Woodbridge Avenue Extension.
Once police arrived, Serrano wouldn’t come out, though he popped his head out his window at one point to talk to Ansonia police Lt. Andrew Cota, who was standing in the front yard area.
“Come on, do me a favor, open the window,” Cota asked about 12:30 p.m.
“I’m trying to sleep. Stop knocking on my door!” Serrano said before slamming his window shut.
Cota said police decided to set up a perimeter, keep the public at a safe distance and patiently wait Serrano out. Authorities were not sure whether he had weapons.
Meanwhile, a crowd of about a dozen onlookers watched as more and more police gathered, including officers from Seymour.
Click the play button on the audio clip below to listen to a brief interview with Cota, who talked to the Valley Indy shortly before Serrano surrendered.
A friend of Serrano’s then approached police and offered to help. The friend called Serrano on a cell phone and helped to convince Serrano to give up.
Eventually Serrano walked slowly out of his apartment. At the same time, police cautiously approached.
Serrano walked to his friend. The two embraced — and the standoff was over.
Click the play button on the video at the top of the story to see the man surrendering.
Police then checked the apartment to make sure there were no weapons — or other people — inside.
“It couldn’t have ended any better,” Police Chief Kevin Hale said Wednesday.
Cota said Thursday it still isn’t clear just what prompted Serrano’s actions. He refused to talk to police, Cota said in a statement.
The chief said he also appreciated the help of Seymour police, who arrived during the standoff to help establish a perimeter around the apartment building.
Serrano was scheduled to make a court appearance in Derby Thursday.
He is charged with first-degree burglary, third-degree sexual assault, third-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace, third-degree criminal mischief and interfering with an officer.
