Police Blotter: Alleged Prescription Forger Caught

The following information was provided by the Darien Police Department:

Monday, May 3

COMMERCIAL BURGLARY: According to a police report, the maintenance manager of an office building at 19 Old Kings Highway South found that the building's digital surveillance system had been stolen after several doors in the building were pried or kicked open.

Read the full story here: Stolen: One Security System

Tuesday, May 4

FORGED PRESCRIPTIONS: Around 1:20 p.m., police responded to a call from Grieb's Pharmacy (1021 Post Road) informing them that a man had passed an apparently forged prescription for methylphenidate, the drug commonly known as Ritalin. The suspect—identified by police as Jason Turoczi, 28, of Fairfield—left the pharmacy after receiving the medication, but police used a description provided by a Grieb's employee to locate him nearby in his vehicle. 

A search of Turoczi's car and person turned up 50 2 mg tablets of the drug as well as two additional prescriptions, both confirmed by police to be forgeries. Turoczi, who had become known for doctor shopping after allegedly presenting ailments to numerous area physicians in search of methylphenidate, was arrested and charged with three counts of forgery and three counts of illegally obtaining prescription drugs.  He is being held on $25,000 bond and was arraigned on May 5.

Wednesday, May 5

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY Police responded to a report of a vehicle break-in on Fairfield Ave. around 8:30 a.m. The vehicle, a 2008 Mazda 3, had been left unlocked in the owner's driveway overnight, when an unknown person rooted through the glove box and attempted to steal a $500 Pioneer GPS radio from the dashboard. Unable to remove the wires attaching it to the car, the intruder left the radio on the seat, and nothing was stolen.

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY A 2006 Chevy Trailblazer had its rear passenger side window smashed on Elm Street during the commission of a burglary, according to police. The theft was reported by the vehicle owner around 8:50 a.m. The only item taken was a black briefcase containing a debit card for the purchase of train tickets.

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY The passenger window of preschool teacher's 2006 Ford Explorer was smashed during a daylight burglary outside Noroton Presbyterian Church, police said. The incident occurred between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. while the owner was away from the vehicle. A Garmin GPS, valued at $400, and the driver's side airbag, valued at $250, were both stolen.

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY A 2004 Grand Cherokee parked in its owner's Fairfield Ave. driveway had two windows smashed out, police said, as an intruder stole a wallet from the pocket on the driver's side door. The incident was reported by the vehicle owner around 6:45 a.m. Several credit cards were inside the wallet when it was taken, one of which was reportedly used at a West Haven Shell Station.

VANDALISM A 2001 Audi A6 parked near Squab Lane in the lot behind the Melting Pot was reported vandalized Wednesday around 10:30 p.m., with an apparently punctured rear tire and a dent on its fender.

Thursday, May 6

BREACH OF THE PEACE A 17 year-old was charged with second degree breach of the peace and second degree threatening after yelling at an Avalon Darien resident Thursday night, police said. At around 8:40 p.m., a woman who spotted three youths in the pool area of Avalon Darien Community and Apartments opened her window to inform them that they were not allowed to be there. One of them—the suspect—reportedly yelled back with "foul language" and threatened the woman, prompting her to notify police.

Earlier in the evening, police had responded to a call on Hecker Ave. from the concerned family member of heavily intoxicated 18 year-old female. After she identified two boys she had been drinking with, 16 and 17 years-old, she was transported to Stamford Hospital.

When police went to the house of the 17 year-old to ascertain his condition, they noted a strong smell of alcohol and realized he matched the description of the suspect from the Avalon Darien incident. When pressed, police said the boy admitted to having yelled at the woman. He was arrested, charged, and released to his parents. His court date is set for May 17.

STOLEN WALLET The owner of a Volvo XC 90 noticed her wallet missing from her purse around 7 a.m. as she was about to buy breakfast at the Sugar Bowl. The purse had been in her car overnight, which was left unlocked across from her Pine Brook Lane condominium. The $295 Burberry Wallet contained $40-50 cash and several credit cards, but there was no indication that the cards had been used.

Friday, May 7

STOLEN TRAILER Police responded to a report of a stolen construction trailer at a building site on Pointer Woods Road South. The vehicle, valued at $6000, had been used to move heavy equipment at the site for over a year. The investigation remains open.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A man and a woman were both charged with second degree breach of the peace after an attempt to reunite turned into a brawl. Corey Dempsey, 19, of Park Lane in Darien and Tucker Burton, 19, of Spring Grove Street met at Burton's house around noon, according to a police official, intending to get back together after recently ending a 2-year relationship. The encounter became heated, leading to pushing and shoving. Dempsey came into the Darien Police department to report the incident, and both she and Tucker were charged and released pending a May 10 court date.

Saturday, May 8

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY Police responded to a report of a stolen iPod Touch, apparently taken during the afternoon from a Saab parked near Cherry Lawn Park. The mp3 player, which had been in the back seat, was valued at $200.

Sunday, May 9

STOLEN IPOD A black iPod was reported stolen from a Darien High School  locker room, according to police. The owner of the iPod, valued at $264, said she had last seen the item April 22 and had originally concluded that she lost it. When friends informed her that other items had gone missing, she contacted police. The student told police the iPod was likely taken from her backpack, which was left unattended in the girls' locker room while she was in gym class April 22.