Police Blotter: Forbidden Fireworks, Vandalized Vespa

The following information was provided by the Darien Police Department:

Monday, Aug. 2

LARCENY: About $350 in cash was taken from a wallet belonging to the owner of Chunky Pam's Sweet Shoppe (1096 Post Road) after a man purporting to be a salesman stopped by the store.

According to police, the owner was outside the closed shop when a man approached him under the pretext of selling electrified signs. After discussing the man's pitch inside the store, the owner decided not to make a purchase. The subject then went to the rear of the store to use the restroom before leaving on foot.

Soon after, the owner realized his wallet, which had been at the rear of the store, was missing. During a search, he discovered the empty billfold stuffed behind the toilet in the store's restroom. The owner checked the area for the subject, who had been the only other person in the store at the time, but was unable to find him. He reported the incident to police around 6:30 p.m.

The subject is described as a mid-20s, 5'6" hispanic male with "really bad teeth." He was wearing a white t-shirt, baggy jeans, and green, grey, and silver nike sneakers at the time of the incident. The man also had a rolling laptop case and several light-up signs with him.

Thursday, Aug. 5

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Patrick McGowan, 22, of Rye, N.Y. was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after officers observed him exhibit unusual driving behavior.

Around 4 a.m., officers parked on Post Road near Thorndal Circle observed McGown traveling eastbound—and later, westbound—on Post Road. As the unit pulled out and began following him, McGowan was observed stopping for an extended period of time at a flashing yellow light at Post Road and Hecker Avenue. He then pulled off on the side of the road, where he stayed for a minute and a half before noticing the unit next to his vehicle. Startled, McGowan made confused sounds when officers asked him if he was okay. He failed subsequent field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. He posted bail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday, Aug. 16.

DOMESTIC DISPUTE: Wilson X. Ramones, 18, of Edgewood Road in Darien was arrested and charged with third-degree assault after reportedly attacking his father.

According to police, the incident began when Ramones asked if he could use his father's car to go to the gym, but his father told him he planned to use the vehicle to go out with his wife. Angered, Ramones walked down the hallway and slammed the door to his room shut. Pursuing him, the father attempted to open the door, which his son then slammed shut a second time. Opening the door once more, the father entered the room, where Ramones proceeded to attack him and punch him in the face.

Ramones then left the house, where officers encountered him during their response to a call by the victim's wife. The father suffered bruising, redness, and swelling to the face, according to police. Ramones was released on a promise to appear in court, which he did on Friday, Aug. 6.

VANDALISM: A 2009 Vespa LX 150 was reported vandalized by its owner. According to police, the complainant left the vehicle in the parking lot of the Noroton Heighs rail station around 8:30 a.m. He returned at 11:15 p.m. to find the Vespa on its side—which he said would have happened without a push—as well as damage done to the left front tire fender. The cost of the damage is unknown.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Itta Bashan, 62, was arrested after police responded to a report of erratic driving.

Around 5:40 p.m., a caller reported seeing Bashan's 2006 Honda Civic strike the curb and sidewalk several times as it headed west on Post Road near Noroton Avenue. When police arrived in the area, passersby pointed in the direction of the vehicle, which was eventually stopped just over the Stamford line. Police noted significant damage to the car, including a flat right front tire.

When officers attempted to interview Bashan, she was initially unable to open the driver's side door. Once face-to-face with police, she said she had had just one glass of wine at Chuck's Steak House, but officers noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage and a a half-empty bottle of pinot grigio on the floor of the passenger's seat. She failed subsequent field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. Bashan posted $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Monday, Aug. 16.

Friday, Aug. 6

POSSESSION OF FIREWORKS: A 17-year-old Darien resident was arrested for possession of fireworks after a traffic stop on Tokeneke Road.

Around 10 p.m., an officer noticed the teen's 97 Mercury Marquis parked in the Whole Foods lot for an extended period of time. When he left the lot, the unit trailed him, eventually stopping the vehicle when he failed to signal during a turn onto Tokeneke Road.

Police said his behavior was very nervous and evasive, leading them to believe he might have drugs in the car. The department's narcotics sniffing dog, Zulu, was then brought to the vehicle to conduct a free air sniff. When he indicated a hit at the rear of the vehicle, officers opened the trunk, where they found a significant quantity of illegal fireworks. The confiscated items included a "Whistling Thunder"-type device, an "Area 51 flammable missile," a "Box 'o Tricks," and a 52-shot firework launcher.

The teen was arrested and released to the custody of his mother on a promise to appear in court Wednesday, Aug. 18.