Milford Man Arrested In Case Where 2 Police Officers Were Injured: PD

FAIRFIELD, CT — Two people were arrested by Fairfield police Tuesday night, following a shoplifting incident at the Fairfield Home Depot store during which two Fairfield police officers suffered injuries.

Police were called to the store at 541 Kings Highway Cutoff at about 7:35 p.m. when Bridgeport resident Amanda Belcher, 41, and Milford resident James Coates, 49, were spotted inside the store. Both are "known shoplifters," who Fairfield police said "had been previously warned not to return" to the hardware retailer.

"Home Depot loss prevention recognized both individuals and alerted police," wrote Sgt. Michael Stahl in a statement. "The Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center confirmed that both Belcher and Coates had several active warrants for their arrests from multiple jurisdictions, including Fairfield, Greenwich, Shelton, the Connecticut State Police, Darien, Naugatuck, and Ansonia."

When officers arrived at the store, they saw the two suspects trying to steal more than $1,200 worth of merchandise.

"Amanda Belcher fled on foot through the parking lot, pursued by a uniformed Fairfield Police Officer," Stahl said. "Belcher entered a vehicle in the parking lot, and despite the officer’s attempt to pull her from the vehicle, she was able to start it and accelerate in reverse, dragging the officer. Belcher collided with another vehicle during her escape, placing the officer in significant danger before the officer managed to free herself."

During the altercation, the officer's cell phone fell into Belcher's vehicle, and the officer's velco name patch was torn off. Belcher sped off in the vehicle, prompting a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies to locate her.

At the same time, Coates ran through the Home Depot parking lot toward Meadowbrook Road, and a "vigilant resident" told police that "an unknown individual matching Coates' description" was hiding in the backyard.

"Officers located Coates and attempted to take him into custody, but he resisted arrest," Stahl said. "After Coates failed to comply with officers' commands, a Taser was deployed, allowing officers to safely place him into custody, preventing further injury to both Coates and the officers involved."

Fairfield detectives, and members of the Bridgeport Auto Theft Task Force, were able to find Belcher at the Sunnyside Hotel in Bridgeport, where she was taken into custody just before 9 p.m.

"Belcher was found to have destroyed the officer's cell phone in an attempt to further prevent police from locating her," Stahl said. "Additionally, the officer's velcro name patch was found in Belcher's possession."

After fleeing the Home Depot, Belcher was involved in a vehicle crash on Meadow Street near Sunset Avenue behind the Lexus dealership, which she also fled, according to Stahl.

Following their arrests, the two suspects were charged with the following:

Amanda Belcher was charged with the following and held on a $75,000 bond:
• 53a-167c Assault of a Public Safety Personnel
• 53a-167a Interfering with an Officer
• 53a-107 Criminal Trespass 1st Degree
• 53a-125 Larceny in the 4th Degree
• 53a-116 Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree
• 14-222(a) Reckless Driving
• 14-224(b)(3) Evading Responsibility
• 14-147(c) Misuse of Plates
• 38a-371 Failure to Insure a MV
• 14-12(a)* Operating Unregistered
• 14-243(b) Unsafe Backing
• 14-237 Driving Wrong Way on Divided Highway

James Coates was charged with and held on a $10,000 bond:
• 53a-167a Interfering with an Officer
• 53a-107 Criminal Trespass 1st Degree
• 53a-48/53a-125 Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in the 4th Degree

Belcher was additionally charged on several warrants with the following:
• 53a-32 Violation of Probation
• 53a-125b Larceny 6th Degree
• 53a-48/53a-125b Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 6th Degree
• 53a-125a Larceny 5th Degree (2 instances)
• 53a-48/53a-125a Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 5th Degree (2 instances)

Coates was additionally charged on several warrants with the following:
• 53a-32 Violation of Probation
• 53a-125a Larceny 5th Degree (2 instances)
• 53a-48/53a-125a Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 5th Degree (2 instances)
• 53a-48/53a-125b Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 6th Degree

Belcher is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 9, while Coates is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 8.