Assault, FTAs Added to Beer-Stealing and Trespass Charges Against Vernon Homeless Man​

VERNON, CT - A local homeless man who last month used a handicapped grocery store cart as a getaway car in an attempted beer heist has been arrested for the third time since the local fireworks show, police records indicate.

Robert Ignatowicz, 62, was taken into custody on Aug, 11 for disorderly conduct and third-degree assault on an outstanding warrant, Vernon police said. It is the third time he has been arrested since he broke into a truck and slept during the local fireworks show on July 6, police said.

He was also charged with failing to appear in court for that and the July 8 beer-stealing incident.

Ignatowicz is now in custody on three separate bonds of $5,000 and is supposed to be in court on Sept. 13, according to court records.

Ignatowicz was caught sleeping in a truck July 6, according to police records. He was caught while the owners of the truck were packing up their belongings after the fireworks show, police said.

Two days later, just hours after he left Rockville Superior Court for the truck incident, Ignatowicz went to the Rockville Stop & Shop, stole two 30-packs of Budweiser and then took one of the motorized carts available to customers with mobility issues.

Officers were tied up on other calls, so Ignatowicz was able to get to the intersection of Route 83 and Windermere Avenue, nearly 2 miles away, before police were able to round him up, according to an arrest report.

Ignatowicz was charged with fifth-degree larceny for stealing the cart and sixth-degree larceny for taking the beer, police said.

He has a trespassing charge for the truck incident, police said.

Photo Credit: The booking mug shot of Ignatowicz furnished by Vernon police