Homeless Man Arrested In Dodd Burglary

Police say a homeless man has been arrested in connection with a weekend burglary at the office of Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd.

Gilbert Soto, 48, who lives in a city shelter, is accused of stealing a television, computer and other items from Dodd's Senate district office early Sunday.

"It does not appear right now that he knew he was breaking into a presidential candidate's office, or that there was any political motivation," says Hartford Assistant Police Chief Neil Dryfe.

Police say officers recovered the stolen television and computer Monday after Soto took them to the spots where he allegedly sold the items.

Soto is, "for lack of a better term, a career criminal," says Dryfe, adding that the burglary site appears to have been selected at random. Soto faces charges of third-degree burglary, third-degree larceny and criminal mischief.

Dodd has served in the U.S. Senate since 1981 and is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. The office is his district headquarters for Senate work, and is not used for his presidential campaign.

Dodd spokeswoman Justine Sessions had no comment on the investigation or arrest. To the best of her knowledge, she said, no personal or confidential information was compromised when the computer was stolen.

Officers were called Sunday afternoon when a property manager found the Lewis Street building's front door unlocked.

Detectives determined that the suspect went into an adjacent parking garage sometime before dawn Sunday, used wood planks to create a makeshift walkway to a second-floor window, and broke into Dodd's office there, Dryfe said.

They also found blood around the window's broken glass, and a security video of the building's interior showed the suspect had a bandaged leg, Dryfe said.

The suspect took the items out through the front door, but police never received a report of the building's alarm system being activated, Dryfe said.

Police say officers recognized Soto when, a short time after viewing the security tape, they spotted him nearby, walking in the neighborhood. He was taken into custody without incident and is being held on $15,000 bond.