New Haven Man Hid Under Mattress in North Haven Home Invasion

New Haven Man Arrested in North Haven Home Invasion After Hiding Under Mattress

A New Haven man was arrested Sunday evening after entering a North Haven residence and assaulting a person known to him — and was found hiding under a mattress when police arrived.

David Palmisano, 43, was taken into custody on March 22, 2026, following a home invasion in North Haven. Officers were dispatched after dispatchers received an open-line 911 call in which the caller appeared to be in serious distress. When officers arrived and searched the residence, they found Palmisano concealed beneath a mattress. He was taken into custody without incident, according to the North Haven Police Department.

The victim's identity has not been released. Palmisano is described as a person known to the victim, though the nature of their relationship has not been disclosed by police.

Charges and Bond

Palmisano faces seven charges in connection with the incident: home invasion, first-degree burglary, first-degree unlawful restraint, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, second-degree breach of peace, and interfering with police.

He is being held on a $250,000 bond. During processing, officers discovered that Palmisano was the subject of an active extraditable warrant from New York State. The nature of the New York warrant has not been disclosed by either Connecticut or New York authorities. The North Haven Police Department notified New York authorities and is pursuing extradition proceedings in connection with that separate warrant.

Palmisano appeared in court on the morning following his arrest. His case is proceeding through the Connecticut Superior Court system.

How an Open-Line 911 Call Triggered the Response

The case illustrates how an open-line 911 call can set a rapid law enforcement response in motion. Dispatchers flagged the call as a distress situation based on audio cues from the live line, directing officers to the location before the caller was able to provide a full verbal account of what was happening inside the residence. This type of call — where the line remains open but the caller cannot or does not speak clearly — is treated by dispatchers as a potential emergency requiring immediate police response.

North Haven Police have not released additional details about what transpired inside the home before officers arrived, or about the extent of the victim's injuries. The department confirmed the arrest and charges in a public statement on March 24, 2026.

Home Invasion Charges in Connecticut

Under Connecticut law, home invasion is distinct from first-degree burglary and carries a heavier mandatory minimum. The charge requires that the defendant entered a dwelling while a person was present and committed or attempted to commit a crime involving the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force. Home invasion is classified as a class A felony, carrying a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years in prison.

First-degree burglary, also charged against Palmisano, is a class B felony that typically applies when a person enters or remains in a dwelling at night, or when someone is injured during the commission of the crime.

First-degree unlawful restraint applies when a person restrains another under circumstances that expose the victim to a substantial risk of physical injury — a charge that reflects the allegation that Palmisano confined the victim during the incident.

The presence of the active New York warrant adds a layer of complexity to the case, as extradition proceedings are a separate legal track from the Connecticut charges and can proceed simultaneously or be resolved through negotiation between jurisdictions.

What Comes Next

Palmisano remains in Connecticut custody on $250,000 bond pending the resolution of both the Connecticut charges and the New York extradition matter. North Haven Police have not announced any additional suspects in the case.

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