Man Tried To Make Fraudulent Withdrawal From Darien Bank: Cops

DARIEN, CT — A 49-year-old Waterbury man was arrested on charges of forgery, identity theft and related violations after he attempted to withdraw $6,200 from an HSBC Bank in Darien on April 11, according to Darien police.

The incident occurred at the Post Road bank at about 1:30 p.m. when bank staff contacted police that a man was attempting "to withdraw money from an account which the employees of the bank believed didn’t belong to him."

Officers found the suspect, later identified as Colin J. Smith, inside the bank and took him outside to speak to him.

"Initially when asked, the male identified himself as 'William Evans,'" wrote Darien police in a statement. "Upon further questioning, the male correctly identified himself as Colin Smith. When asked what he was doing at the bank, he informed officers he had come to withdraw money. An employee of the bank turned over several items that Smith had provided them with when the transaction was attempted. Included in those items was a falsified New Jersey driver’s license, bank cards, and a withdrawal slip made out for $6,200. All of these items bore the name 'William Evans.'"

Smith was taken into custody and charged with:

• Identity theft, second degree
• Criminal impersonation
• Criminal attempt at larceny, third degree
• Forgery, first degree
• Interfering with an investigation

He was initially held in lieu of bail of $25,000 but that was later reduced to a written promise to appear by a state Bail Commissioner, according to Darien police. Smith is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on April 22.