Asleep at the wheel
Mathew Gromiller, 41, of Bayberry Lane, spent Christmas morning in police custody after Fairfield officers found him asleep in his running van at the intersection of Home and Colony Streets near Pumpkin Preschool at 4:35 a.m.. Inside the vehicle was marijuana, crack cocaine and paraphernalia.
Gromiller was wanted on a number of warrants from Easton, Stratford, Bridgeport and state police.
When officers approached the vehicle, which was in gear, Gromiller was inside with the seat reclined. They could smell marijuana in the van.
When questioned, Gromiller admitted to possessing some marijuana and crack cocaine on his person. More crack cocaine and a pipe were found in the van’s center console.
Gromiller was charged with the use and possession of drug paraphernalia; illegal manufacture, distribution, sale or prescription; sale or possession within distance of a school, possession of narcotics, illegal possession near a school and second offense possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana. He was also charged with multiple counts of failure to appear in the first and second degrees as well as a count of failure to pay or plead.
Gromiller’s total bond, including all warrants, was $116,950. His van was towed and he was held for a Jan. 4, 2013 court date on all charges.
Fight with security
Fairfield police arrested John Carter, 30, of Pacific St., Stamford, on Dec. 21 at 12:55 p.m. after he got in a fight with security at Walgreen’s.
Police report that Carter was suspected of shoplifting and when got into an altercation when security confronted him.
Carter was charged with robbery in the third degree, larceny in the sixth degree and breach of peace. He was released on a promise to appear for a Jan.4, 2013 court date.
Fight with family
Fairfield police K-9 Ruger located a man who fled from police after fighting with a family member at his Flintrock Road home on Dec. 21 at 7:17 p.m.
Police responded to the address on reports that Dowd was throwing things inside the home and fighting with a family member. When he officers arrived he fled on foot. Ruger tracked and located him nearly a mile from the home.
Dowd was charged with interfering with an officer and disorderly conduct.
Stealing from family
Leon Pastemark, 27, of Pinewood Trail Trumbull, was arrested by Fairfield Police on Dec. 21, at 11 a.m., for allegedly stealing and cashing checks from a family member.
Pastemark was charged with larceny in the fifth degree and forgery in the third. He was issued a $1,000 bond.
Couple’s dispute
A separated couple were arrested by Fairfield police on Dec.23, at 2::40 p.m., following a physical altercation in a vehicle.
Jill Popowich, 49, of Grasmere Avenue and Michael Popowich, 49, of Winchester, NH, were both charged with disorderly conduct. Jill received an additional charged with assault in the third degree.
Both were given a $5,000 and a Dec. 24 court date.
Stolen rifle
A Fairfield Beach Road resident reported to police on Dec. 24 that an AR-15 Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle was stolen from his home sometime during Hurricane Sandy. Police are investigating.
The owner said the home was under renovations and the area where the gun was kept was not secured. It was stored in a cloth case in the garage.
Stolen donations
A bell ringer was asked to leave Super Stop and Shop after someone reported her suspicion that he was stealing donations according to Fairfield police.
The witness claimed the bell ringer took a $20 donation from her. He allegedly waved his hand over the bucket but did not deposit the money. When the witness reported her suspicion to police, the bell ringer denied the claim.
Lost iPad
A theater goer lost his iPad after leaving a showing at Fairfield Cinemas the evening of Dec. 24. The missing tablet was returned to him the next day, but reportedly was missing the internal SIM card.
The man reporting the alleged crime claimed he left the iPad in the seat next to him at the theater. The next day he discovered an employee had the device and was willing to meet him at the theater and return it.
The iPad’s owner reported that after getting the tablet back, it was missing the SIM card. The employee claimed he didn’t even know how to access that part of the iPad.
Stolen vodka and wine
A Warner Hill resident stepped outside his home to collect packages he knew were just delivered. He was greeted by the site of a thief running off with some of his gifts.
The resident reported to Fairfield police that he heard the delivery truck pull up and then leave on Dec. 21 at 3:09 p.m. He stepped outside to collect his packages.
That is when he saw an African-American man in a green winter hat running to a white van with packages in hand. Inside the delivered items were $200 worth of vodka and wine.
Stolen credit cards
Fairfield police are investigating a shopping spree made with stolen credit and debit cards. The victim, a Hanford Drive resident, reported the theft on Dec. 21 at 3:13 p.m.
A thief entered the victims unlocked car on either Dec. 18 or Dec. 19 and stole a number of credit and debit cards as well as gifts. The cards have since been used everywhere from Macy’s and Victoria’s Secret to a nail salon and Family Dollar. The total damage before the cards were locked out was $1,585.
