Police: Man with Stolen Item Had Heroin, Too

Darien police said a Winsted man trying to get a refund on merchandise that had been stolen also had a syringe in his back pocket with traces of heroin on it.

Police gave this account of the incident and arrest:

Michael Refalo, 50, had attempted to get a refund at CVS Pharmacy, 964 Post Rd., on a set of wireless headphones valued at $99.99. But according to management at the store, the security code on the box had been scratched off.

Refalo later indicated to police that a friend had stolen the item from a CVS store in Newtown.

"When speaking with Refalo, officers observed him place his hand into the back of his pants," according to a news release from the Police Department. "When asked what he was doing, he indicated that he had a syringe in his back pocket."

A field test of the substance on the syringe indicated that the substance was heroin.

Refalo was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny. He was released on a written promise to appear Dec. 18 in state Superior Court in Stamford.