Police arrest CT man in connection with several car thefts after finding him hiding with gun
A man was found hiding under a car in Fairfield in the early morning hours Thursday with a gun as officers tied him to several car burglaries.
Officers received the report of car alarms going off in the area of Ann and Nichols Streets just after 5:30 a.m. on Thursday along with two males being seen wearing face masks on bicycles, according to Sgt. Michael Stahl of the Fairfield Police Department. About four hours earlier, police had received the report of two males trying to enter vehicles about a mile away in the area of Penfield Road.
While investigating the car alarms, officers searched the immediate area and did not locate any suspects, Stahl said in a statement. As they expanded their search, police found two individuals matching the description of the suspects in a McDonald’s at 536 Post Road.
Both individuals fled the restaurant through the back door as an officer tried to make contact with them, according to Stahl. Officers chased the suspects and were able to apprehend one of them. He was identified as 21-year-old Nazareth Sinclair of Bridgeport.
Sinclair was found hiding under a car parked outside a Stop & Shop at 1160 Kings Highway Cutoff. He allegedly had a firearm that he tried to conceal under the vehicle, Stahl said.
Police later discovered that Sinclair allegedly had cash and items linking him to the thefts reported in the area, according to Stahl. He was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of a firearm, third-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny and interfering with an officer.
Stahl said police also had a warrant for Sinclair’s arrest stemming from a car burglary reported on Aug. 23, 2023, in the 1400 block of Kings Highway. He was identified in that investigation after allegedly using credit cards stolen from a vehicle to buy merchandise at numerous locations, according to Stahl.
In that case, Sinclair faces three counts of illegal use of a credit card and a single count each of third-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny and receiving goods from illegal use of a credit card.
Stahl said Sinclair also had multiple warrants stemming from other jurisdictions on two counts of violation of probation and a single count of first-degree failure to appear.
“We commend the swift and diligent actions of our officers in apprehending the suspect, thereby removing a repeat offender and an individual in possession of a firearm from our community,” Stahl said. “Their commitment to public safety is exemplary and reflects the dedication of the Fairfield Police Department to serving and protecting our residents.”
Sinclair was held on bonds totaling $95,000 and was expected to be arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court on Friday.
According to Stahl, officers are still investigating the car thefts and seeking to identify the second individual.
Anyone with information or surveillance footage that can help in the investigation has been asked to contact the Fairfield Police Department at 203-254-4840.
Information can be left anonymously at fpdct.com/tips or through the Fairfield police mobile app. Anonymous tips can also be sent via text message by sending “FPDCT” along with any information to Tip411 (847411).
