Attempted theft of food
A Bridgeport man is facing four charges after Stratford police said he tried to steal food from a local supermarket.
Shayne Steven Finitsis, 34, of 131 Wake Street, was charged on Jan. 21 with third-degree assault, third-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny, and second-degree breach of peace.
Police said Finitsis went to the C-Town supermarket on Boston Avenue at about 7:45 p.m. and attempted to steal bread, margarine, cheese, and sandwich meat. Police said the store manager confronted him about the attempted theft and Finitsis shoved the manager. Police said he also took the manager’s cell phone and threw it.
Finitsis was taken into custody and held on $5,000 bond, which he did not pay. He appeared in court on Jan. 23 to answer for the charges.
Domestic incident
A Stratford man accused of hitting his former girlfriend following an argument was charged with three counts by Stratford police.
Colonel W. Francis, 34, of 339 Wiklund Avenue, was charged with second-degree unlawful restraint, third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
Police said the couple, who recently ended a seven-year relationship, were on the way to a store to buy transmission fluid at about 6:10 p.m. when he began yelling at her. Police said she told him to leave and he said he was going to. When they got to the home they shared, police said, he followed her into her bedroom and began yelling at her again and he followed her and continued yelling at her. Police said he later grabbed her legs and dragged her across the floor by her ankles and choked her. Police said he also pushed her back into her room and didn’t let her out even as she pushed to get out. Francis later grabbed his keys and wallet and left. Police apprehended Francis outside the home when he was in his car. Francis appeared in court on Jan. 23.
Theft of a cell phone
A Stamford woman accused of arguing with her boyfriend and taking his cell phone is facing a pair of charges.
Ashanti Whittingham, 19, of 164 Ursula Place, was charged on Jan. 22 with second-degree breach of peace and interfering with an officer. Police said at about 6:40 p.m., officers went to the Stratford Metro-North train station to respond to a domestic disturbance. Police said Whittingham and a man she was with were separated. Police said the couple had an argument. Police said Whittingham refused to give the man his cell phone back and denied taking it. Police said she was loud and uncooperative when dealing with officers. Police said Whittingham used combative words toward the officers. She was taken into custody and officers found the man’s cell phone in Whittingham’s pocketbook. She was released and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 5.
Hit-and-run
A Derby man accused of driving his car into another car and then leaving the scene is facing a pair of charges from Stratford police.
Thomas R. Wilson, of 304 Caroline Street, was charged on Jan. 24 with failure to drive in the proper lane and evading responsibility.
Police said Wilson’s car, a white Toyota Corolla, hit a Mazda 6X7 that was stopped at an intersection on Barnum Avenue Cutoff at about 11 p.m. Police said Wilson then drove to Milford on Interstate 95 and went inside a bar on Naugatuck Avenue. Milford and Stratford officers located Wilson, who was intoxicated inside the bar. Wilson did apologize for the wreck. Both vehicles sustained minor damage.