Former Connecticut police officer arrested for burglary of businesses he previously patrolled and investigated.

A former police officer in Connecticut faces serious criminal charges after being accused of burglarizing eight businesses within the town of Glastonbury, where he previously served and investigated several of his alleged crimes. The state police announced the arrest of Patrick Hemingway, 39, last week, revealing that he has been charged with nine counts of burglary and one count of attempted break-in.

According to law enforcement officials, Hemingway was a resident of Glastonbury during the time of the alleged break-ins and had been known to visit some of the targeted establishments. Among the businesses allegedly victimized was 2 Hopewell Bistro & Tavern, an award-winning restaurant that Hemingway is accused of burglarizing on three separate occasions.

The restaurant owner, Bill Driggs, expressed disbelief upon learning of Hemingway’s involvement in the crimes. Driggs recounted a conversation with the former officer in March 2023, during which Hemingway inquired about two burglaries affecting his establishment. Driggs remarked that he never suspected he was speaking with the individual who was soon to be linked to those very incidents. Overall, Driggs reported losses amounting to approximately ,500 due to burglaries at both 2 Hopewell and his other venture, Sayulita.

Investigators believe that most of the burglaries occurred late at night, shortly after Hemingway completed his shifts as a patrol officer. It has been suggested that he utilized a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which belonged to his former wife, to facilitate the burglaries. Furthermore, authorities allege that Hemingway employed a stolen license plate on the vehicle to evade police scrutiny while monitoring law enforcement databases to ascertain if he was under investigation, as detailed in a 27-page arrest warrant.

Described by state police as a “serial burglar,” Hemingway is suspected of committing at least 50 thefts across multiple states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In addition to the burglary charges, he has been charged with larceny and money laundering.

Hemingway is currently being held at the Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers, Connecticut, in pretrial detention, with a bail set at million. This incident raises critical concerns regarding trust and accountability within law enforcement, compounded by the nature of the crimes committed by a sworn officer of the law. As the investigation continues, the community remains vigilant, grappling with the implications of a law enforcement official implicated in such serious allegations.

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