NEW BRITAIN, Conn.—Police have formed a task force here to investigate a home invasion and attempted robbery that included what assailants claimed was a bomb around the neck of a credit union CFO. At least two suspects remain at large.
The task force includes representatives of the New Britain, Conn., and Bristol, Conn., police departments, along with the Connecticut State Police and the FBI.
Meanwhile, additional details continue to emerge regarding the series of events here.
According to police, Matthew Yussman, CFO at Achieve Financial Credit Union, was confronted in his home in Bristol, Conn., on Sunday night, Feb. 22, in a home invasion. Media reports have said that Yussman and his mother were taken hostage, and that the mother was strapped to a bed, under which the suspects placed what they said was a bomb. At some point Monday morning, the suspects hung another device they said was a bomb around Yussman's neck and told him to drive to the credit union and empty out the vault, and then return home, where apparently the bomb would be removed and he and his mother freed. According to Fox 4 News, while driving to the credit union Yussman contacted Achieve Financial's CEO, Andrew Klimkoski, with a message that he should get the money ready. Klimkoski, however, dialed 911, and Yussman never entered the credit union and instead remained in his car in the CU's snow-filled parking lot as police arrived.
Yussman was taken away from the scene in handcuffs as a precaution in an ambulance, after the bomb squad was able to remove the device from his body. He was checked out at a hospital.
The incident led to the shutdown of roads near the credit union, while schools were placed on lockdown and nearby apartments were evacuated. No one was injured. Police also cordoned off the area around Yussman's home after he told them of the home invasion, but then his mother walked out of the home on her own, having freed herself.
The device identified as a bomb has been turned over to the FBI, who have yet to say whether or not it was an actual explosive device.
During a press conference here authorities released a statement saying, "Two adult males were reported to have been involved in the Bristol home invasion which subsequently led to the bomb incident and the attempted bank robbery. At least one of the males is white and of medium build. Both males spoke fluent English. Both males were reported to have distinct accents that were not consistent with being native to Connecticut. The males are reported to have been dressed in dark clothing wearing ski masks and ski goggles. A possible vehicle identified is an older model white four-door Mazda.
When contacted by CUToday.info, officials with Achieva Financial cited the statement on its website: “The credit union is pleased that our employee and his family member were not harmed. The credit union is fully cooperating with the police while they investigate the incident. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience this situation has caused our members and note that all of our credit union locations are back to full operation."
A local TV report of the incident can be found here.