Man Accused of Forging Checks From Grandfather's Business

A Bridgeport man was arrested Tuesday, accused of cashing forged checks from the bank account of a local heating and cooling company owned by his grandfather.

Derek Denner was charged with two counts of third-degree forgery and two counts of third-degree larceny. He allegedly forged three checks from the business worth a total of $5,375.36.

Police spokeswoman Lisa Cotto said an investigation of Denner was begun Oct. 5, when the owner of the company on Wilton Avenue reported he found a check was missing several days earlier. The man, Cotto said, called his bank and learned the check, apparently signed by him, had been made out to Denner for $2,500 and had been cashed.

He showed police the check and another check he had actually prepared and signed. The officers reported the signature on the check to Denner was obviously forged.

The man said his grandson, who does not work for him, had stopped by his business on Oct. 1.

Cotto said officers contacted Denner’s former employer, a restaurant supply company, and was told he was no longer welcome there because he was suspected of forging checks from the business.

Cotto said police called and left messages for Denner numerous times to inform him they held a warrant for his arrest. He walked into Police Headquarters Tuesday afternoon.

Police found Denner also had two outstanding re-arrest warrants for failing to appear in court following previous arrests.

On May 26 Denner was charged with illegal possession of narcotics. On Aug. 30 he was charged with issuing a bad check, a Class A misdemeanor. Both arrests were made by Norwalk Police.

Denner, 24, of 1610 Fairfield Ave., was held on $5,000 bond for the forgery and larceny charges and given a court date of Nov. 13. He was held on combined bonds of $8,000 for failing appear in court, and was given the same court date.