3 Officers Injured During Attempted Larceny Arrest: Stamford PD

STAMFORD, CT — Three officers suffered minor injuries and two New York City men were arrested after police said the men tried to fraudulently buy cell phones at a Verizon Wireless store in Stamford last week.

Around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 4, officers received a call from the Verizon store located at 290 Hope St. saying that two men were trying to buy cell phones with fake credit cards and ID's, according to Stamford Police Public Information Officer Sgt. William Brevard.

When officers arrived, one of the men, later identified as Christopher Johnson, 30, of Queens, N.Y., fled the store but was apprehended quickly, Brevard said. During a struggle with Johnson, three officers suffered minor injuries.

The other man, who was later identified as Lance Harper, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arrested in the store.

"Both males had fake ID's and credit cards on them that didn't belong to them," Brevard said.

Johnson was charged with three counts of second-degree forgery, fourth-degree criminal attempt at larceny, fourth-degree conspiracy at larceny and interfering with police, according to Brevard. An initial bond of $100,000 was set, but the amount was raised to $350,000 after it was discovered that Johnson had an extraditable warrant from Baltimore, Md. for federal violation of parole.

Brevard said Johnson was additionally charged as a fugitive of justice.

Harper was charged with seven counts of second-degree forgery, fourth-degree criminal attempt at larceny, fourth-degree conspiracy at larceny and third-degree identification theft, Brevard said. Harper was held on a $100,000 bond.

Both men appeared in court on Monday. According to the Connecticut judicial branch website, Harper was able to post a surety bond and was released from custody. He's scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 18.

The Connecticut inmate search website shows Johnson is in custody at Bridgeport Correctional Facility. His next court date is scheduled for March 21.