PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A New York man suspected of stealing pricey wine and other alcohol from businesses in Connecticut and three other states faces a court appearance Tuesday in Rhode Island.
Scott DeLuca was arrested in Rhode Island last week, with authorities then finding out he was wanted for a theft from a Groton eatery.
On October 19, Groton police began investigating the theft of an expensive bottle of wine from the Octagon Restaurant, located within the Mystic Marriott.
The suspect, using a ruse gained access to the wine storage area, allegedly stole a bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus wine, valued at nearly $5,000.
The investigation revealed similar incidents in New York and New Jersey, as well as Connecticut. The suspect identified in all these crimes was Scott DeLuca, 24, whose last known address was Cohoes, New York.
On October 22, 2015, the Groton Town Police obtained an arrest warrant for DeLuca.
On Thursday, the Smithfield, Rhode Island, police department took DeLuca into custody on unrelated shoplifting charges. He was spotted by an off-duty officer at a shopping center and called police to come arrest him.
In addition to the charges he faces in Rhode Island, DeLuca was also charged by the Smithfield Police Department, as a fugitive from justice. DeLuca is being presented in Kent County District Court, in Warwick, RI and RI Superior Court in Providence.
Groton police have started the extradition process, but Deluca did not waive extradition. That means Gov. Dan Malloy’s office will have to issue another warrant for him directly.
The Colonie Police sent Groton Police Deluca’s mugshot, and based on surveillance video they were able to confirm it was the same person.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Officer Wilczek at 860-441-6712, reference case 15-2921-OF.
