Police Reports: DUI, Thefts, A Suspected Burglar and Evading

The following information was supplied by the Monroe Police Department. No arrested person is guilty until so judged in a court of law.

DUI on Route 111

An off-duty Bridgeport police officer driving on Monroe Turnpike at 12:22 Sunday morning reported an erratic driver after seeing a 2002 Mercedes in front of him veer into the southbound lane while heading north — near Monroe Elementary School, according to the report.

Officers located the Mercedes and stopped it in the 300 block of Route 111 and the driver had the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her, police said, adding field sobriety tests determined she was under the influence, leading to her arrest.

Robin Johnson, 47, of 7th Avenue in Milford was charged with driving under the influence and failure to drive in the proper lane. She was released on $500 bond for an Oct. 4 court date.

After being taken into custody, police said Johnson had later refused to participate in breath tests at headquarters.

Arrested for Evading

A 49-year-old Milford man told police he was putting his gear into his car in the Whitney Farms Golf Course parking lot Tuesday when a 1998 Cadillac Eldorado drove close as it passed him and he felt a sharp pain in the heel of his right foot.

An eye-witness yelled to the driver to stop because he hit someone, but police said the Cadillac took off.

Based on the license plate number and witnesses' accounts, police arrested Michael Suhr, 76, of Stone House Road in Huntington at his home with assistance from Shelton police.

Suhr was charged with evading responsibility and bond was set at $100 for a Sept. 27 court date.

Police Nab Burglary Suspect

Police arrested a Beechwood Avenue man Friday in connection with a residential burglary on Old Newtown Road on May 31.

Geraldo Garcia, 46, was charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree larceny. Bond was set at $25,000 and he was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

A Monroe Police Department investigation led to a warrant for Garcia's arrest, which police served at the Fairfield police station, where Garcia was being held on unrelated charges, according to the report.

Shoplifting Leads to Two Arrests

A Shelton man was arrested for shoplifting at Big Y Supermarket, 535 Monroe Turnpike, Sunday, after allegedly trying to leave the store with close to $98 worth of baby formula, police said, adding his friend was also taken into custody as he waited for him in the parking lot, after officers learned of an active warrant for his arrest.

Thomas Byron, 47, of Fox Run was charged with sixth-degree larceny and held on $1,000 bond. His friend, Joaquin Suarez, 37, of Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, was arrested on a PRAWN warrant for violation of probation and held on $10,000 bond. Both were scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

On Sunday, a loss prevention officer, 24, who recognized Byron for allegedly having been involved in thefts from other stores, saw him try to leave the Monroe store without paying for seven cans of Gerber Good Start Baby Formula, according to police. When the loss prevention officer confronted Byron, police said Byron tried to shove him out of his way.

Byron was in the loss prevention office when police arrived. Police said Byron gave them a description of his friend, Suarez, who was waiting for him in the parking lot. After officers found Suarez, police said a background check tipped them off to the arrest warrant.

Arrested for Harrassment 

An argument had ended a friendship, but one woman allegedly continued to call and text the other despite being told not to, police said.

Kathleen Manalis, 50, of Cornell Road in Fairfield was charged with second-degree harassment and released on $500 bond for an Oct. 5 court date.

Theft from Vehicle

A car charger and a power inverter were reported stolen Sept. 17 from an unlocked vehicle on Mustang Drive. Police said the theft took place sometime overnight.

The victim left his vehicle at 5 p.m. on Sept. 16, and found the glovebox and center console open and his belongings scattered all over the interior at 11 a.m. the next day police said. The total value of the stolen items is estimated at $65, according to the report.