Pair arrested in Westport home invasion

Westport Police have arrested two people after a home invasion in their town.

According to Detective Jeff Majewski, on July 2 at approximately 12:50 p.m., several officers responded to 1003 Sodom Road for a report of a home invasion. A witness told police a male fled in a tan colored vehicle and provided officers with a description of the suspect. She told police she was inside her home when a male entered and demanded money. The male went with her through areas of the house searching for cash and took approximately $180 dollars from her after he punched her in the face.

Officer Kyle Fernandes located a similar vehicle minutes later on Hixbridge Road. Investigators brought the victim to the suspect for an identification. The male suspect was identified as Jayson Shute, 30, of Warwick, RI. He was also with a female driver who was identified as Tonya Gustafson, 30, of West Warwick, RI.

Both were arrested and the $180 dollars in $20 bills was located inside Gustafson’s clothing. Investigators later located a shirt which had been thrown out of the vehicle as it fled the scene. The shirt matched the clothing description of the male that the victim had provided to police.

Both suspects were charged with Breaking and Entering in the daytime placing a person in fear, Unarmed Robbery. Gustafson was also charged with driving with a suspended license. Shute was also charged with Assault and Battery on the female homeowner.

Majewski stated, “This was not a random crime and the suspect made comments to the victim looking for specific items inside the home.”