[Editor's Note: Arrest information is supplied by the . It does not indicate convictions.]
An Easton man faces several motor vehicle charges after he allegedly sped into a utility work zone on Bronson Road in Fairfield on Monday, police said.
Robert Auer, 54, of Norton Road was charged with interfering with an officer, traveling unreasonably fast in a utility zone, operating a vehicle using a handheld device (second offense), and disobeying an officer's signal in a utility zone, according to the police report.
An officer on special assignment was overseeing utility work on Bronson Road, near , when an Audi station wagon approached at a speed exceeding 25 miles per hour, department spokesperson Sgt. Sue Lussier. The officer was directing another vehicle to turn left and held his hand up to stop the Audi, which braked so hard that the tires screeched, according to the report.
The officer reported observing the operator, Auer, allegedly using a handheld device that may have been an iPhone and talking as he was driving, police said. The officer signaled for Auer to pull over, but Auer reportedly told the officer, "Yeah right, see you later," and drove off.
There were several witnesses at the incident and large utility work signs signaling that traffic needed to slow down, Lussier said.
Auer turned himself in at Fairfield police later that afternoon after learning police were looking for him. He was charged accordingly and released on a promise to appear in court on Aug. 15.
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Also in the blotter:
A Bridgeport woman was charged Monday with sixth-degree larceny after she allegedly tried to shoplift $118 worth of merchandise from in Fairfield, police said.
Tina Franz, 46, of Wood Avenue, reportedly brought a pair of MUDD jeans and an Energy bra into a fitting room and then concealed the items in her purse and on her person, according to Kohl's employees, who watched Franz on surveillance video.
She then attempted to leave the store but police detained her, according to Kohl's employees.
Franz was charged and released on a promise to appear in court on Aug. 20. She has also been banned from entering Kohl's, police said.
