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GREENWICH, Conn. Criminals kept the officers of the Greenwich Police Department on their toes in 2011. Here are some of the biggest stories from the past year:
Police Link Gun-Wielding CVS and Subway Robbers
In February, a Port Chester, N.Y., man robbed the Greenwich Avenue CVS Pharmacy with a pellet gun and got away with Oxycodone and Xanax. Within minutes, employees pointed him out to a patrol officer and said, Thats him. The man, Dominick Glowacki, was confronted by police and threw the BB gun to the ground. He was taken into custody with 924 Oxycontin pills in his possession.
The next day, Brian Steed of Greenwich allegedly robbed a Subway on Greenwich Avenue using a handgun. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.
During investigations into the CVS robbery, police found that Glowacki had been staying in Greenwich with Steed over the weekend. Police linked the two through further investigation, and an eyewitness identified Steed as the man who robbed the Subway. Detectives obtained a warrant and arrested Steed. Officers said the two acted on their own during the robberies.
Cops Bust Online Prostitution Ring
Thirteen suspects were arrested in an online prostitution ring during the spring. Undercover officers posted fake advertisements online to solicit sex from several websites offering acts in exchange for money anywhere in Greenwich.
Detectives contacted a websites phone number and negotiated payment for services with women advertised online. Detectives arranged to meet at the Delamar Hotel and Hyatt Regency Greenwich.
On April 12, detectives went undercover to meet the women. Surveillance units staked out the prearranged locations and identified two men who drove two women to the meeting. All were arrested and charged.
In May, similar negotiations were made and seven customers were arrested when they arrived to meet officers.
A socialite with a penchant for stealing expensive scarves
Manhattan fashion designer and Polish-born socialite Beata Boman was charged June 14 with larceny for stealing an $11,000 fur-lined scarf from Richards on Greenwich Avenue. Just three days earlier, she allegedly stole a $725 Lorna Piana scarf at the upscale department store. Her lawyer, Mark Sherman, attributed the theft to a behavioral change after brain surgery. In court, she received probation allowing her to clean her record upon completing the program.
Fake Veteran Caught at Memorial Day Event
Jesus M. Garcia of Greenwich lied to family, friends and the public by claiming he was an Army Ranger who was combat-wounded after serving four tours of duty in Afghanistan.
Garcia was asked to speak at a Memorial Day ceremony in Greenwich on May 27. Right before the ceremony, Greenwich Police Capt. James Heavey met with Garcia. During the conversation, Garcia gave incongruous information about his time in the service. It became clear that he was a fraud, police said. Garcia then provided an investigating officer with a false name and date of birth. He was arrested that day.
During further investigations, police found Garcia had financially swindled two victims while pretending to be a soldier in need of money for medical care and other bills. He was then arrested by warrant on charges of false representation of armed force uniform, fraudulent use of military insignia, felony larceny and misdemeanor larceny.
Unsolved Crime: Peoples United Bank Robber
Peoples United Bank on Greenwich Avenue was robbed in early November by a 20-something man who passed a note demanding money to the teller. He was given money and fled on foot. Days later, wearing the same outfit a brown hoodie and baseball hat the man robbed another bank in Riverside.
Based on the surveillance images, its the same guy, said Lt. Kraig Gray, spokesman for the department. Detectives looked at it, and they believe it to be the same guy.
However, during the robbery, bank employees gave him a fake bag with a red dye pack that went exploded on him. The activated dye pack was recovered, and police said he may have red dye on his hands. Its a fairly indelible dye thats going to be difficult to remove, said Gray.
He remains at large. The suspect was described as 5-foot-9 to 6-feet tall with medium brown skin, slender build and a goatee.
Anyone with information should call the Greenwich Police Department at 203-622-8000 or 203-622-8054.
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