MONROE, CT — A rental truck stolen from Pella Windows, 220 Monroe Turnpike, on June 26 was later recovered by city police in Hartford. Monroe police say surveillance video recorded at several stops along the way led to the arrest of a Danbury man for the theft.
Lyle Solsbury, 47, of 36 Birch Road, was served with an arrest warrant charging him with first-degree larceny at Bridgeport Superior Court, where he was arraigned on Friday.
Several area police agencies reached out to the Monroe Police Department to identify the man captured on video surveillance and photos as Solsbury, according to the report.
Police said Pella Windows had rented the truck from Ryder before reporting it stolen on June 26.
Police arrest alleged Tequila thief
Police served an arrest warrant to a 40-year-old Bridgeport woman at Bridgeport Superior Court Friday for the alleged theft of a $97.83 bottle of Casamigos Blanco tequila from 574 Wines, 574 Monroe Turnpike, on April 30.
She was charged with sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny. Bond was set at $5,000 and she was turned over to U.S. Marshals to be held for arraignment.
On April 30, police said surveillance video showed a heavy set male and a heavy set female enter the store at 5:50 p.m. The man walked up to the counter and spoke to the employee, while the female, who wore a large brown over-the-shoulder bag, walked to the display of tequila.
Both wore surgical masks over their faces, police said.
Video reportedly showed the woman pick up a 1.75 liter bottle of Casamigos Blanco and place it in her bag, before the couple walked out of the store without paying. Police said the employee became suspicious after hearing glass clinking when the woman was at the display.
The couple drove off in a red Nissan Rouge in an unknown direction, police said, adding the vehicle matched the one used by suspects linked to a rash of thefts in the area.
Asleep at the wheel
Officers responding to a complaint of an erratic driver, allegedly swerving into oncoming traffic on Main Street around 9:51 Sunday night, found a vehicle matching the description, a blue 2005 Pontiac Montana, at the intersection with Bart Road.
The driver was asleep at the wheel of the vehicle, which was in drive with the key in the ignition and the engine running, according to police. The Pontiac reportedly sat idle at the traffic light as it went through two cycles, causing traffic to back up behind it.
An officer knocked on the driver’s side window and called out to wake up the driver, a 34-year-old Seymour man, who told officers he did not have a driver’s license and was unaware if the vehicle was insured, according to the report.
Police said the driver had bloodshot, glassy eyes and the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath.
A check of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles’ system showed the man’s license was suspended for over a year and that his vehicle’s insurance expired over a year ago, police said.
Field sobriety tests at the scene determined he was under the influence, leading to his arrest and breath tests taken 20 minutes apart at police headquarters showed blood alcohol levels of 0.227 and 0.212, the report said.
In Connecticut a driver is considered legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol limit of 0.08 or higher.
The driver was charged with DUI, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, driving without insurance, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and failure to obey traffic signals, signs or markings.
He was held on $500 bond and arraigned at Bridgeport Superior Court the next day.
Pepper spray used in domestic
A 27-year-old School Street woman was charged with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault of an elderly person after allegedly using pepper spray on a family member during an argument Sunday afternoon.
Police said the male victim, age 60, was treated by Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel at the scene, but declined a trip to the hospital for further treatment of redness in his eyes and on his skin.
The woman, who told officers she used the pepper spray because she felt threatened, posted 10 percent of her $500 bond and was released for a July 24 court date.
Police were called to the home around 2:43 p.m. for the incident, which was reportedly sparked by a verbal argument among family members over household chores and responsibilities.
Toyota vs. pole
A 74-year-old Shelton woman reportedly tried to drive her 2018 Toyota RAV4 onto the side of Cutlers Farm Road after noticing mechanical problems, when she sideswiped a utility pole Sunday afternoon.
The driver does not speak English, so her daughter translated her account to officers, who responded to the accident, which occurred near Hannah Lane at approximately 2:30 p.m., according to the report.
She was issued a warning for failure to drive in the established lane.
Police said Monroe Emergency Medical Service personnel evaluated the driver at the scene, before she declined further medical treatment.
The Toyota was towed due to disabling damage and the utility pole was still intact with minor damage, police said. Frontier was notified of the incident.
Unemployment benefits scam
Police received a complaint Friday from a resident victimized by a scam, in which someone fraudulently applied for unemployment benefits from the Connecticut Department of Labor using their names and information.
All the victims were advised to contact the three major credit bureaus, to monitor their financial accounts and to report the incidents to the Labor Department and the Social Security Administration.
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