Suspect Accused Of Assaulting Fairfield Police Officer During Shoplifting Attempt

FAIRFIELD, CT — A 40-year-old West Haven man was arrested on charges of assault on a police officer and larceny last week in connection with an attempted shoplifting incident at the Home Depot on Kings Highway Cutoff in Fairfield, according to authorities.

The incident occurred on Jan. 1, when store personnel spotted two suspects "using bolt cutters to access locked merchandise and loading over $1,000 worth of power tools into a shopping cart before attempting to leave the store without paying," Fairfield Police Sgt. Jenna Wellington told Patch.

"When officers arrived, one of the suspects, Daniel Mckenna, physically assaulted an officer who attempted to detain him, resulting in minor injuries to the officer," Wellington said. "The officer was transported to the hospital for evaluation and has returned to duty. A second suspect, Jose Natal, ran from the scene and was apprehended following a brief foot pursuit."

Mckenna initially provided officers with a false name in an effort to conceal his identity, according to Wellington.

In addition to the officer, both Mckenna and Natal were transported to an area hospital for evaluations, and were medically cleared.

Mckenna was charged with the following:

• Criminal impersonation
• Larceny, 4th degree
• Conspiracy to commit larceny, 4th degree
• Assault on a police officer
• Interfering with an officer

He is being held in lieu of bail of $75,000, and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Jan. 28.

Natal, a New Haven resident, was charged with the following:

• Interfering with an officer
• Conspiracy to commit larceny, 4th degree
• Larceny, 4th degree
• Criminal trespass, 1st degree

He is being held in lieu of bail of $50,000, and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Feb. 2.