Man With Puffy Jacket Obsession Grabs Kid's Coat In Vernon: Warrant

VERNON, CT — A senior citizen is accused of grabbing a child's jacket at a Vernon supermarket because he has a thing for that type of garment, according to a warrant issued out of Rockville Superior Court.

A warrant was served to the man last week charging him with risk of injury to a child, disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal mischief, according to court records.

Vernon police said they began investigating the case on Feb. 17, when an upset mother contacted them about the incident. The mom said she was at the Vernon Aldi with two children and turned away from them briefly to grab something off a shelf. When she wheeled back toward the cart, one of the boys said a man has just grabbed his coat, according to a warrant.

The mom noticed a tear in the material, according to a warrant.

The boy pointed the man out in a checkout line and, after the mom lodged a complaint, the transaction was traced to 69-year-old Vernon resident Michael Demers, a warrant states.

During extensive interviews with police, Demers at first wrote it off as a brush-type of contact, but when continually pressed by detectives, he admitted he did grab the garment because he likes shiny, puffy jackets. He also admitted he has grabbed other jackets in other public locations in north central Connecticut and northern New England, where he often travels.

Vernon detectives then applied for a warrant.