Police Still Investigating Theft of $1,800 From Party

On May 15, police responded to a larceny complaint from a motor vehicle owner parked on Stonybrook Road.

Upon arrival, police spoke with the victim who stated that his Acura had the rear passenger window smashed in and a bag of money was taken. He told police that he did not witness the incident but that there was $1800 in cash missing.

The victim said he came to the address for a party and was paid by a man name Angelo Rivera. Police did not elaborate on what kind of party had taken place.

The victim told police that during the evening he received more money and placed that money in a book bag, which he then placed over his shoulder.

He added that during the time the bag was on his shoulder, an unknown male unzipped the bag about half way down and was trying to get at the money. He then said he went and placed the money in the car at about 12:45 as the party was winding down.

He told police that he placed the bag under the dashboard on the driver’s side of the car and that he returned to the car 10 minutes later to find the window smashed and the bag taken.

He then went inside to the party to find the person nicknamed “Flame” but was told that he had left. After asking several persons including Rivera, 28, of Bridgeport, at the party if they knew where the person named “Flame” was. No one knew, he said.

At about that point, police were called. After police arrived, a phone call was received by a third party who police did not identify, and Rivera grabbed the phone and started walking away.

Police told him to come back so that police could speak to the third party. Police reported that Rivera began speaking in Spanish about the incident, then said in English, “When I see you on the set, you’re done.”

Police repeatedly asked for the cell phone in order to speak to the unidentified third party when Rivera told police that he had hung up.

When police called the unidentified person back, he told police that he was in New Haven the whole evening. When Rivera was asked if he knew the person, he said no, he only knows of him but never met him.

While police were interviewing other witnesses, one person yelled out loud, “This guy is involved." She was talking about Rivera, police said.

The witness told police that Rivera was whispering to the male party while on the phone and said that as he was walking away he whispered to the other male to “shut up” in Spanish, and was being very “sneaky with his conversation.”

After getting more information, police asked Rivera again who he was speaking to on the phone and how police could get in touch. Rivera said he was not talking to the male nicknamed “Flame,” but rather was talking to his brother.

Rivera told police that he used his own phone to contact his brother and never used the cell phone. Rivera then told police that he never heard of the person called “Flame,” and then changed his story to say that he was talking with his brother-in-law on the phone, police said.

Several witnesses who were not indentified came to headquarters and signed sworn statements, while Rivera was transported to headquarters and charged with interfering with police. Bond was set at $2500 and court set for May 25.

After being processed, Rivera then told police that a person named “Flame” was at the party and said he was willing to give a sworn statement about the incident.

Police then contacted the person known as “Flame,” who told police that he was at a club all night in New Haven.

Rivera then gave a sworn statement to police what had happened at the party and police said that at least one further arrest may be forthcoming.