Burlington Man Charged With Disturbance at Denny's

A Burlington man is facing multiple drug charges and breach of peace after police said he entered with a pit bull earlier this month and stole a customers cell phone then became combative with staff when they tried to talk to him.

Joseph Paul Melluzzo, 32, of 1 Sherman Drive in Burlington, was arraigned in Bristol Superior Court on Monday on charges of second-degree breach of peace, interfering with police, possession of narcotics, possession of a hallucinogenic substance, illegal storage of narcotics and possession of marijuana.

Melluzzo remains in custody in lieu of a $10,000 bond, according to court staff.

Sgt. Lowell DePalma said the arrest was made Saturday after New Britain police stopped Melluzzo for an unrelated traffic incident and discovered there was a warrant for his arrest in Southington.

The arrest stems from an incident on July 7 around 2:15 p.m., police said. Witnesses told police Melluzzo entered the Queen Street restaurant holding a pit bull on a leash and immediately went to the counter and picked up a customers phone, Sgt. Lowell DePalma said.

“After taking the phone from a woman at the counter, he started making calls on it and went behind the serving counter according to staff,” DePalma said. “Staff asked him to give the phone back and he refused, then ran to the north side of the restaurant and said he had trouble breathing.”

Police said he picked up a napkin with a knife in it and began to get aggressive, but put it down when staff asked him to take it easy.

When officers arrived, he had already gone outside and began acting irrational and confrontational with staff of American Medical Response. He was patted down, at which time he attempted to fight the officers, police said.

Officers discovered a bag of marijuana, which later tests determined had been laced with PCP, as well as four Oxycodone pills. Oxycodone is a narcotic painkiller used for moderate pain.

He was taken to the Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain Campus, and later released but police obtained a warrant for his arrest.