Police Cruiser Rammed By Naugatuck Man In Beverage Theft: Report

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A man rammed a Southington police cruiser demolition-derby style in an effort to get away from a Southington supermarket with $51.93 worth of drinks, a report indicates.

Southington police released a report on the Nov. 21 incident on Tuesday.

That day, Nicholas Verity, 30, of Nauguatuck exited the Stop & Shop at 505 North Main St. in Southington with a shopping cart containing Red Bull and juice boxes without paying, according to a report.

Store security staff members attempted to stop Verity when he reached his Hyudai Elantra and a brief struggle ensued, according to a report.

At the time of the incident a Southington police officer was already in the parking lot assisting another person and after noticing the dispute, walked over to intervene, a report indicates.

Verity was able to get into the driver’s seat of the vehicle, already occupied by Erin Capozzi, 31, of Waterbury, police said. He began driving across a crowded parking lot in an attempt to leave the scene and a second officer in a cruiser tried to stop him, according to a report.

Verity then reversed his vehicle and rammed the second officer’s cruiser, but then surrendered, according to a report.

The total value of the beverages was $51.93. Police also discovered three glass pipes consistent with drug use in the vehicle, according to a report. The registration plate on the Hyundai belonged on another vehicle, police said.

The officer in the cruiser that was rammed sustained a minor injury, according to a report.

Verity was charged with sixth-degree larceny, second-degree reckless endagerment, intefering with an officer, his inital $100,000 bond was reduced to $50,000 in court, but he failed to post it, court records show. He was still in custody Tuesday and is slated to appear in court on Jan. 3, according to judicial system records.

Capozzi was charged with conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny and possession of drug paraphernalia. She posted a $1,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in Bristol Superior Court on Dec. 3, court records show.

Photo Credit: SPD

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