Community Corner

Theft of Tips and 'Monster' Mistake Lead to Arrests

A look at some of the stranger arrests reported by Southington police in the past week.

Over the past week, police have made numerous arrests - some stranger than others. Here’s a look at some of the most recent stories coming from the Southington Police Department.

Seeking a Free Meal

A New Haven man is facing charges after he went to the Denny’s Restaurant along Queen Street and ordered a $2 meal then attempted to pay for it by stealing tips from surrounding tables, according to a police report.

Southington police said William Murtaugh Jr., 47, entered the 621 Queen Street restaurant Sunday night around 8 p.m. and sat down to order a $2 meal. Following the meal, while waitresses were busy with other customers, staff told officers that Murtaugh went to surrounding tables and stole about $7 in tips.

When staff approached the man, Murtaugh became belligerent and first refused to pay then attempted to pay using the tip money.

Staff didn’t accept the money and Murtaugh was arrested on charges of second-degree breach of peace and sixth-degree larceny. He is due in Bristol Superior Court for arraignment next week.

Monster Repetition

Two Naugatuck men learned a lesson in how not to commit a crime after police said they attempted to steal six 6-packs of Monster energy drinks twice in just four days.

Bruno Reis, 33, and Reed Stachelek, 31, each have cases pending in Bristol Superior Court stemming from the theft of the energy drinks from Price Chopper at 410 Queen St. during separate, but similar incidents on May 20 and May 23.

Police said video surveillance footage showed that on May 20, Reis entered the Price Chopper with a carriage, filled it up with six 6-packs of the energy drink and then drove it right by the checkout and out the door to where Stachelek was waiting in a dark SUV.

Four days later – at the same time of day – the two men returned to Price Chopper and attempted to pull off the same theft. Their May efforts were futile though because security was waiting and the two men never made it out of the parking lot.

Police arrested the men on May 23 on charges of burglary and larceny. While investigating the case, officers learned of the video footage and were able to collect evidence tying the men to the previous theft, according to police.

Detectives obtained a warrant and both men were charged with sixth-degree larceny after turning themselves in on June 2.

Guilty Conscience

A local woman accused of causing a May 11 motorcycle accident along North Main Street and fleeing before returning about an hour later is now facing charges in the case.

Brittany Nazario, 21, of Virginia Drive, was taken into custody on a warrant June 1 and booked on charges of driving under the influence, failure to obey a traffic signal and two counts of assault with a motor vehicle. She is due for arraignement in Bristol Superior Court next week.

Police said that Nazario ran a red light at the intersection of High Street and North Main Street just before midnight and struck a 2002 Harley Davidson, sending a man and woman on the bike rolling into the middle of the street.

Nazario then fled the scene before officers arrived, but returned a short while later to take responsibility for the accident.

The accident led police to close the road, Route 10, for more than an hour due to injuries cause to the motorcyclists. Both are recovering from the injuries, police said.

Nazario was given a breathalyzer when she returned and a breathalyzer determined she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.112.


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