Police: Men Stealing Wheels Spotted by SUV's Owner

Two men were caught stealing wheels off a Ford Explorer early Wednesday morning near the intersection of Van Buren and Grandview avenues, police said.

The owner of the SUV called police at 1 a.m. to report he heard voices outside and looked out a window, where he spotted the pair in the process of removing a wheel.

When Officer Christopher Wasilewski arrived, he radioed he had located the men and the car. When they saw him, one fled and Wasilewski chased him.

He reported chasing the man, later identified as Luis Velez, through several yards before tackling him to the ground. Velez allegedly fought with Wasilewski as other officers arrived to assist him.

One of those officers, Jeffrey Proudfoot, reported Velez slammed him in the face with his elbow several times, prompting him to shoot Velez with a Taser stun gun.

When officers returned to the SUV, they reported it was sitting on milk crates.

They allegedly found the second suspect, Pedro Alvarado-Tafur, hiding in a tan van at the crime scene.

Police said the van contained milk crates, two tire irons and a floor jack.

Velez, 37, of 4 Noble St., Stamford, was charged with assault on a peace officer, interferring with an officer, criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny, and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.

He was held on $10,000 bond on those charges. However, Velez also had three outstanding arrest warrants for first-degree failure to appear in court. The court set bonds on the warrants totaled $95,000.

 Alvarado-Tafur, 20, of 8 Shadow La., was charged with criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny, and interferring with an officer. He was held on $50,000.

Both men were given court dates of Aug. 24.