Suspects steal $6 during crime spree

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Three men were arrested following a crime spree in New Haven that included a robbery at the gas pumps, a hit-and-run, and an assault.

Just before 9 p.m. Monday, police responded to an armed robbery call at the Best Gas Station, located at 308 Whalley Ave.

Lanisha Richardson and her boyfriend, David Jordan, told police that after pulling up to the gas pumps they were confronted by two men. One of the men was holding a gun and demanded their money. Jordan complied and gave the robbers his wallet. One of the men then removed the cash from it.

The men then got into a black Audi and drove off.

As officers searched for the suspects, another officer was searching for clues at the scene of a pedestrian struck near the Fair Haven Middle School.

Police said the vehicle involved in the accident was the same black Audi.

An officer went to the home of the Audi's owner, Harold Whitley, on Country St., but the vehicle wasn't there.

Just after 10 p.m. an officer spotted the Audi passing by De Gale Field on Sherman Parkway.

The Audi pulled over in front of 76 Henry St. Police then found three occupants inside the vehicle and what appeared to be a bullet hole through the Audi emblem on the back of the car.

Officers then spoke with the occupants.

The front seat passenger, 28-year-old Dennis Atkinson, of Valley St., gave police several fake names before confirming his true identity. Atkinson told police he'd lied to cover up his outstanding first-degree escape from custody and drug warrant.

The back seat passenger, 28-year-old Shawn Williams, of Hamilton St., was found to have blood on his sleeve. When police asked him why the blood was there, Williams said the officer should have known that his "boy" was jumped in Fair Haven. However, he refused to elaborate.

Police then spoke with the Audi's owner and driver, Whittley, who told police he became involved when he'd received a call from his brother claiming he'd been robbed on Whalley Ave. and needed a ride from Fair Haven to the hospital. He said he obliged his brother "Andre", and dropped him off a block from the emergency room. When asked why he didn't drop his brother off at the hospital, he said he didn't want his car to be involved.

Whitley had originally identified his brother as John Whittley, but later referred to him as Andre. He eventually admitted that Andre (Huckabee) was the one he'd dropped off and that he was "like his brother," but didn't know his last name.

Huckabee was then identified by police as the man who'd been dropped off at the St. Raphael's campus of Yale-New Haven Hospital, suspected of being shot. However, he wasn't shot. He was beat up at the Grand Cafe on Grand Avenue, loaded into Whittley's Audi and taken near the hospital.

As the Audi sped off, someone was hit by the car, but was not seriously injured.

The Audi was impounded as evidence.

Whittley was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

The victims of the gas station robbery were brought in and identified Atkinson as the gunman and Williams as the other robber.

Atkinson was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, two counts of conspiracy, interfering with police and three counts of criminal impersonation.

Williams was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, and two counts of conspiracy.

Additionally, Huckabee will be charged with criminal impersonation. He also has an outstanding warrant out of Massachusetts for stealing a car.

Police said $6 was taken in the robbery.