BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Two Bridgeport men are facing a slew of charges connected to two burglaries nearly a year ago, police said.
On Jan. 31, Whites Diner on Boston Avenue had been burglarized around 2 a.m., according to officials. Almost two hours later, the same two suspects showed up in the area of The Original Vazzy's Restaurant and Catamount Food Services, which was located across the street.
It was there, around 3:40 a.m., an employee at Catamount was confronted by the suspects, later identified as 50-year-old Hipolito Rodriguez and 46-year-old Vincent Deramo. According to police, one of the men was armed with a knife, while the other one had a "pointed object."
Both men grabbed the woman and held her against her will as they threatened her and took her keys to the restaurant across the street. One of the suspects then left Catamount with the keys while the other stayed with the woman.
According to Bridgeport investigators, Vazzy's Restaurant was burglarized for more than an hour while the Catamounts employee continued to be held against her will.
When one of the men returned from Vazzy's, the victim was let go, and both men fled the scene.
Bridgeport's robbery investigation team began its investigation and for several months, detectives were able to identify the suspects as Deramo and Rodriguez.
Deramo was taken into custody by the Orange Police Department on Monday and then taken to Bridgeport, where he was served with an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear with a bond set at $5,000. While there, he was also served with another outstanding warrant for the Whites Diner burglary. He was charged additionally with third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, and third-degree criminal trespassing. His bond was increased to $150,000 and he appeared in court on Monday.
Deramo is expected to face more charges in connection with the second incident, including first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, and second-degree threatening.
Rodriguez was already in custody on unrelated charges. He's expected to be charged with third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary and second-degree criminal trespassing for the Whites Diner burglary. He will also face characters of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, two counts of third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, and second-degree threatening in relation to the Vazzy's/Catamount burglary. His bond is set at $300,000.
Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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