Arrest in 1 Norwalk Car Burglary May Solve Others

A Norwalk man apparently living in the back of a box truck was arrested in connection with a car break-in on Friday at a Main Avenue parking lot, and police are investigating whether or not other burglaries may be tied to the man.

Police gave this account of the burglary and the arrest:

On Thursday, a woman reported that her car 2007 Jaguar, parked in the 761 Main Ave. parking lot of LA Fitness, had been broken into. A window had been smashed, and a laptop valued at $700, together with a pocketbook were missing.

On Saturday, a family member of Stephen Martin, 38, whose last known address was 60 Wolfpit Ave., called to tell police he has a drug problem, and aside from that she was worried about his emotional state based on statements he had made. She said he might be living in a box truck parked near the intersection of South Main and Novack streets in South Norwalk.

Police discovered Martin in the truck hiding under a mattress that had been propped up on milk crates. They discovered a crack pipe on him.

Further investigation tied Martin to the Main Avenue car burglary. Police are not yet announcing how Martin was tied to that burglary because, they say, it may affect a continuing investigation into other burglaries.

Martin was charged with fifth-degree larceny, third-degree burglary, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia near a school. He was initially held on $50,000 bond.

Woman mugged at 11:42 p.m. on Main Avenue

For some reason, a mugger on Saturday night demanded both the purse and the sneakers of a 24-year-old woman he confronted late Saturday night on Main Avenue.

The Norwalk woman told police that the man crossed Main Avenue to approach her as she was walking at 11:42 p.m. near the Rainbow Plaza at 205 Main Ave. She noticed something in his hand, but didn't know what it was.

After she dropped the sneakers and purse on the pavement, she decided to run off. The mugger also ran off, north on Main Avenue. Police are continuing to investigate the case.

Ex-boyfriend charged with assault and trying to break-in

A neighbor of a home on Scribner Avenue near West Cedar Street called police at 12:42 a.m. Sunday to report a male was trying to break in there. Police found a broken window with blood on it, and the man had left the scene by the time police arrived, but the incident resulted in an arrest.

Police described the incident and arrest this way:

An officer searching the area stopped a man near 95 Scribner Ave. whose clothing fit the description provided by the witness. The man, Derrus Leavitt, 32, of 122 Westfield Rd., Milford, was sweating, had blood on his hands and cuts on a few fingers.

Leavitt couldn't explain why he was in the neighborhood, said he was headed toward his van, parked at the Best Buy store parking lot nearby, but he was headed in the wrong direction when he was stopped. He couldn't explain to police how his hand was cut.

Police arrested Leavitt. They said he was uncooperative, agitated and yelling profanities during the arrest and while they were trying to process the arrest, so they tazered him, then took him to Norwalk Hospital to get the tazer hooks removed.

Leavitt's former girlfriend, who lives at the home where the window was broken, told police she had argued with him last week, when he hit her in the face and grabbed her, holding her against her will.

Police charged Leavitt with first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal trespass, third-degree assault, interferring with an officer, disorderly conduct and unlawful restraint. He was initially held on $200,000 bond.

Arrest in two-year-old burglary

Two years after the resident of a home at 7 Drum Rd. reported the theft of jewelry and checks, police arrested a Norwalk man who they said was working as a handyman around the house.

The owner had found the items missing after returning home from a business trip. A number of people had access to the home, and there were no signs of forced entry.

Police reports were unclear as to how Mario Porrass, 49, of 84 Taylor Ave. was linked to the burglary. He was arrested Friday at 10:45 a.m. on charges of third-degree burglary and third-degree larceny. His initial bond was set at $25,000.

Assault on East Avenue

A 53-year-old man was punched in the face and knocked to the ground late Saturday evening by a couple of males he said were "picking on him" before they followed him and jumped him.

Police were called to the street in front of 236 East Ave. at 10:12 p.m. Saturday on a report of the assault. The victim said he was walking home on East Avenue when the confrontation took place. Nothing was taken from him.