Willimantic police say the suspect was caught after stealing a car that had a 3-year-old inside

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. — Willimantic police said they arrested a suspect Wednesday who stole a car with a 3-year-old child.

According to police, at 4:17 p.m., a male suspect walked into a white Volkswagen Tiguan parked at a gas station in Willimantic and stole it.

A 3-year-old was sitting in the back seat of the Volkswagen as it left the area, police said.

A short time later, the suspect stopped in the parking lot of a business in Lebanon and dropped the child off in a circle of people, police said. He then fled the area.

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Willimantic officers found the child shortly afterward and used all available resources in the investigation, police said. They were able to identify the child and take him to a hospital for examination.

Police notified the Department of Children and Families, which will assist in the investigation.

Preston police arrested the suspect and took him to the Willimantic Police Department to file charges.