Crime & Safety

Mechanic Who Left in Customer's SUV Turns Self In

Richard Benevides told police he was under the influence of cocaine when he took the vehicle.

A Bridgeport man who drove off the lot of a Darien car dealership Tuesday in a customer's vehicle has turned himself in, according to the Darien Police Department.

Richard Benevides of 65 Ashton Street in Bridgeport was arrested and charged with second degree larceny after he returned the vehicle to H&L Chevrolet of Darien around 5:00 a.m. Wednesday and presented himself to police.

Authorities said Benevides, an employee of the dealership, took the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe off of a lot around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday before disappearing. He was later captured around 11:15 a.m. by an ATM surveillance camera at a bank in the Fairfield/Bridgeport area.

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Benevides told investigators that he had taken the vehicle to purchase cocaine in Bridgeport. After using the drug, according to police, he said he didn't remember anything until he ran out of gas in Greenwich.

He is being held on $10,000 bond and was set to appear in Stamford Superior Court Wednesday morning. Second degree larceny carries a sentence of 1 to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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