According to the Berlin Police Department, at about 3:13 a.m. Monday morning, officers responded to a 911 call from a homeowner regarding a suspicious person outside of a Newton Street residence. The homeowner said a suspicious male had rung his doorbell asking for directions and was now standing in his backyard.

While the homeowner was placing the call, a second suspect emerged from the kitchen and confronted the homeowner. The homeowner struck the intruder several times with the phone as he forced his way past him and out of the house.

The two suspects subsequently fled on foot from the residence. An off-duty state of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection employee who was in the area observed the suspects and attempted to apprehend one of the two, but both eluded his efforts.

The D.E.P. employee called to several Berlin Police Officers who had arrived in the area who were pursing the suspects on foot.

A perimeter was set up at which point a Rocky Hill Police Department K-9 Unit arrived to assist. The K-9 team located the suspects after a brief search at which point both suspects surrendered without incident. Two male suspects from New Britain, ages 15 and 17, were subsequently arrested and transported to the Berlin Police Department.

The suspects’ names are withheld due to the suspects’ ages. The 15 year-old male was transferred to Hartford Juvenile Detention Center. He was charged with first-degree burglary, home invasion, third-degree criminal mischief, interfering with police, and second-degree criminal trespass.

The 17 year old male was held on a police department set $100,000 bond. He was charged with first-degree burglary, home invasion, third-degree criminal mischief, interfering with police and second-degree criminal trespass.