Westport Man Arrested After Altercation In Whole Foods: Police

WESTPORT, CT — A 28-year-old Westport man was arrested last week on a charge of interfering with an officer, after police said he got into an altercation at the Whole Foods store on the Post Road West.

Westport police were called to the store just before 11 a.m. on Jan. 29, after receiving a complaint about an alleged threatening incident.

"It was reported by management that a customer had verbally threatened to cause physical harm to a staff member," wrote Lt. Anthony Prezioso in a statement. "It was further reported that the individual was known to frequent the store, allegedly known to staff for taking items from the prepared foods section without paying."

The suspect was identified as Rahine Robinson, and police said that the store wanted "a formal trespass warning" to be issued to him.

After officers arrived at the store, Robinson fled on foot, according to Prezioso.

"When eventually located in the surrounding area by officers, he was again resistant to investigative detention," Prezioso said.

The store employee did not want to press charges about the complaint, Prezioso said, but Robinson was taken into custody "based on his repeated resistance."

Robinson was released after posting a $500 bond, and he is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Feb. 10.