East Haven Man Arrested for Home Invasion and Assault

Press Release from Branford Police Department

arrested Giovanni Rivera, 19, of 18 Ledyard Place, East Haven, just after noon today after he invaded the home of an ex-girlfriend in Branford's Jefferson Woods Condominiums (Monticello Drive) and violently assaulted her two male friends, who were visiting her home. He was captured by police as he attempted to flee the area in his car.

Officers and detectives determined that Rivera kicked in the front door to the condominium and began assaulting the 20- and 18-year-old victims with a bottle, causing blunt force trauma, lacerations, and puncture wounds. Both victims were treated by paramedics and transported to an area medical facility for further medical treatment for serious, non-life threatening injuries.

Sergeant David Galdenzi, who supervised the officers that responded to the home said, “We are working with detectives now to determine the motive for this violent attack. Preliminarily it appears that Rivera was upset that his ex-girlfriend had become friends with the male victims.”

Rivera is charged with two counts of Home Invasion; two counts of first-degree assault; second-degree strangulation; possession of marijuana (less ½ oz.); first-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. He is currently being held on a $750,000 bond and will be arraigned in New Haven Court on Monday at 9:00 am.