Louis Valentin and Candido Quiles-Rivera arrested for baby formula theft. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Westport Police Dept.
Officers arrested two New Haven men Wednesday, one of them a fugitive from justice, for stealing more than $580 worth of baby formula from Walgreens and Stop & Shop, police said today.
Upon their arrests, Louis Valentin, 43, was charged with two counts of second-degree larceny and two counts of conspiracy in the second degree. For these charges, he was issued a written promise to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on Thursday, Dec. 17.
In addition, computer checks showed that Valentin was the subject of an active and extraditable arrest warrant held by the New York City Police Department. As a result, Valentin was also charged with being a fugitive from Justice, and his bond was set at $100,000.00, which he was unable to post. For that charge he is set to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court today.
Candido Quiles-Rivera, 50, was charged with two counts of second-degree larceny and two counts of conspiracy to commit larceny. He was released on a promise to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Computer checks found that Quiles-Rivera was also the subject of an active arrest warrant held by the New Haven Police Department. He was released to the custody of officers from that department for arrest processing relative to their case, police said.
According to the arrest report, the incident unfolded around 10:17 a.m. Wednesday when officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at Walgreens Pharmacy at 880 Post Road East.
“It was reported by store staff someone had just stolen approximately $380 in baby formula,” said Lt. Anthony Prezioso.
He said a description of the suspect, as well as his vehicle and registration plate, were provided by an employee.
“This information was broadcast to all officers,” Prezioso said. “Shortly after hearing this broadcast, another officer located the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of Stop & Shop, 1790 Post Road East.”
He said that upon discovering the vehicle, officers saw it occupied by one male with a second male loading it with a red, reusable shopping bag filled with baby formula.
“Through investigation it was determined that this formula, valued at approximately $206 in total, had just been stolen from Stop & Shop,” Prezioso said. “The stolen formula from the Walgreens incident was also recovered within the vehicle.”
