During the morning hours of October 28, 2024, the Old Lyme Resident State Trooper was contacted by the Chattanooga Police Department in Tennessee, seeking assistance in locating a fugitive believed to be residing in Old Lyme. The fugitive from justice, Kody Tyler Stewart (DOB: 10/26/1994), was wanted in Tennessee on multiple felony sexual assault charges involving a minor and was believed to possess firearms at the Old Lyme residence.
Dispatch personnel from Troop F in Westbrook verified that this arrest warrant was extraditable and confirmed with Tennessee authorities that they would attempt to locate Stewart and take him into custody of Stewart.
Troopers and Old Lyme Police Officers conducted surveillance of the residence and determined that Stewart was not present at that time; however they anticipated his return the following day.
On 10/29/2024 at approximately 8:00 AM, Troopers and Old Lyme Officers returned to the residence in an effort to locate Stewart. They located Stewart at the Old Lyme residence and took him into State Police custody without incident. During the on-scene investigation, Troopers discovered an unsecured, unregistered firearm belonging to Stewart; the firearm was easily accessible to a child residing in the home.
Based on this information, Stewart was arrested and transported to Troop F for processing where he was charged with the following violation pertaining to his fugitive status:
C.G.S. 54-170; Fugitive from Justice
Stewart was assigned a $500,000 bond for this charge, which he was unable to post.
Stewart was separately processed and charged with the following violations pertaining to the firearm located within the residence:
C.G.S. 53-21; Risk of Injury to a Minor
C.G.S. 53a-63; Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree
Stewart was assigned a $10,000 bond for these charges, which he was unable to post. Stewart was held on these charges and was transferred to the custody of the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center.
Stewart is scheduled for arraignment for the above charges at New London Superior Court on 10/30/2024.
