FAIRFIELD, Conn. A Derby man was charged after an elderly woman was attacked and had her car stolen at a Fairfield grocery store late Friday night, police say.
Rickey Smith, 58, was found with the victims car at a Bridgeport gas station shortly after the incident, police say.
The incident occurred at the Super Stop & Shop on Kings Highway Cutoff at about 9:15 p.m., Friday. The victim, a 72-year-old woman, told police that she had just finished loading her groceries into her car when she was approached by an older black male. The suspect attempted to disguise himself as an employee of the store by wearing a bright yellow jacket, similar to those worn by cart-checkers, police say.
The suspect struck the victim several times before pulling her from the drivers seat of the vehicle by her jacke and then got into the car and drove east on the Post Road, toward Bridgeport, police said. The woman complained of hip pain after the fall, and was taken to Bridgeport Hospital for treatment.
Police searched the area for the car and the suspect. Sgt. Edward Weihle located the car at the Citgo gas station on the corner of Iranistan and Fairfield avenues in Bridgeport. The victims purse was still inside. Smith was in the car at the time, police say. He was then taken into custody.
Smith was charged with second-degree larceny, third-degree robbery and third-degree assault on an elderly person. His bond was set at $25,000, and is due in court on Feb. 6.
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