Crime & Safety

Regional Police Roundup: Taco Bell Order Comes with Side of Criminal Charges

Police charged two Taco Bell drive-thru fans after the driver backed his car into the restaurant and then changed seats with his passenger in an attempt to confuse the cops.

Article written and reported by Patch Editor Jayme Kunze

Taking the Drive-thru Lane Too Literally

The case: 
Middletown police charged a Durham man with operating under the influence, unsafe backing, evading responsibility and interfering with a police officer, police said. A Middletown man was also charged with interfering with a police officer, according to police.

The twist: The two men were in the Middletown Taco Bell drive-thru lane on April 2, when the Durham driver backed into the restaurant, police said. The driver then switched seats with the passenger to confuse the police, according to police. Officers report that both men failed field sobriety tests.

Parking Lot Peepshow

The case: Police charged a Middletown man for interfering with an officer, police report.

The twist: Officers were called to the Middletown Staples parking lot on April 5 after a witness told police they had seen the accused exposing himself and performing a lewd act while sitting in his car, police report. The man refused to identify himself to police, get out of his car or explain why there was a water bottle full of urine in the vehicle, police said.

Making a Midnight Student Loan Payment

The case: Police charged a Bloomfield man with non-student possessing drugs near school, possession of less than half-ounce marijuana, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia, according to police.

The twist: According to police, the accused was stopped for a traffic violation and then offered the officer 2.5 grams of marijuana and $2,469 in cash, without being asked.

Although the man was stopped close to midnight on March 28, he told police he was on his way to make a payment on his student loans, police report. Officers also found sandwich baggies, flakes of marijuana and two pay-as-you-go cell phones in the vehicle, according to police.

Stealing From the Dead

The case: 
A Newington woman was charged with third-degree burglary and fifth-degree larceny, according to police.

The twist: 
The woman stole two 18-inch flatscreen TVs from a South Windsor funeral home, according to police.

Female Bank Robber Uses Fake 'Stache to Create Male Disguise

The case: 
Police charged a Clinton woman with three counts of first degree robbery, three counts of third degree larceny and three counts of second degree threatening, after she allegedly robbed three banks in Durham, Killingworth and Essex, police report.

The twist: 
In the surveillance video for all three robberies, the accused woman was seen wearing a wig, hat and fake mustache, police said. Police are investigating if the faux 'male' robber is connected to other bank robberies in the area, according to police.

Armed Men, Still At Large, Make Off with $4 Million from Jewelry Store

The case: 
Police are searching for a group of armed men who stole $4 million from Lenox Jewelers in Fairfield, police report.

The twist: 
In an elaborate plot, police said the men broke into a Meriden home on  April 11, tied up four victims and kidnapped two of them, who were employees of the jewelry store. The robbers, armed with guns, forced the employees to enter the store and unlock the safe, according to police.


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