Two Charged in Alleged Fake Cosi Robbery

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Two men now face larceny charges stemming from a June 16th incident in which a robbery was reported at the Stamford Town Center Cosi.

Off-duty Officer Tom Wolff was working a side job at the Stamford Town Center and just wrapping up to head home heard the call for a reported robbery at the Cosi and quickly responded, police said.

As the officer spoke with the reporting party, identified as David E. Rawsthorne, 26, of Maple Ave. in Bethel, was an employee of the Cosi in a supervising position and spoke with Wolff about what allegedly occurred, saying approximately $2,000 was taken from the store, according to police.

Authorities said Wolff determined some of Rawsthorne's answers were questionable and further, more-pointed questioning eventually broke Rawsthorne down and he admitted to making the story up.

A review of the security footage from the town center failed to show any party entering or exiting the Cosi during the time of the alleged robbery, police said.

Also charged in the incident was 33-year-old Justin Nicholas Brunco of Prospect St., a former employee of Cosi himself.

Rawsthorne was charged Tuesday with third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny and second-degree falsely reporting an incident. He was being held on a $2,500 bond.

Brunco was charged Tuesday with third-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit a crime. He was held on $25,000 bond.

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Other Arrests

Arnulfo Andres-Jimenez, 24, of Atlantic St., was charged early Monday morning with evading responsibility in a motor vehicle, illegally operating a motor vehicle without the minimum proper insurance, operating an unregistered vehicle, illegally operating a motor vehicle without without the proper license class and improper use of markers, license or registration.

Robert Anatolio Arias, 34, of Cove Rd., was charged Monday afternoon with strangulation and disorderly conduct.

Nelson Berganza, 41, of Courtland Ave., was charged Monday night with larceny and making or offering to make home improvements without a current certificate of registration.

Carlos Benito Chutan, 30, of Seaton Rd., was charged early Monday morning with breach of peace, interfering with an officer and assault.

Robert Vincent Dudley, 45, of Glenbrook Rd., was charged Tuesday morning with disorderly conduct.

Steven Allen Jones, 32, of Duffy St., was charged early Tuesday morning with possession of narcotics, sale of certain illegal drugs, failure to keep narcotics in a proper container and interfering with an officer.