Cops: Man Reports Car Stolen After He Robbed Vernon Dunkin Donuts

Vernon Police arrested a man who reported his car stolen in an attempt to mask the fact that he robbed a Dunkin Donuts over the weekend, according to police.

Police were dispatched to the restaurant located at 520 Talcotville Road on a report of an assault.

Upon arriving they learned that an employee was the victim of an armed robbery, said Detective James Grady, police spokesman. He had been working inside when a man in a hooded sweatshirt and an ace bandage wrapped around his face approached the drive-through window on foot armed with a knife.

The man demanded money and the clerk tried to shove him, Grady said.

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The robbery suspect pulled the clerk through the window and the two began to fight. The victim sustained minor injuries.

Vernon Police K9 Officer Bryan Sembersky and K9 Thor attempted to track the suspect, but didn’t locate him. Police gathered evidence at the scene.

Around 5 a.m. on Monday officers received a call from David Lanier, 23, who reported that his car was stolen overnight from his apartment complex parking lot, Grady said.

Sgt. Christopher Hunt and another officer responded. Hunt realized something was amiss, according to Grady and determined that Lanier’s complaint might be related to the robbery.

Lanier was interviewed and allegedly admitted to the robbery and the fact that he tried to cover it up by reporting his car stolen.

Lanier, 23, was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree unlawful restraint, third-degree assault, carrying a dangerous weapon, sixth-degree attempted larceny, making a false complaint and second-degree making a false statement. He was held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

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