Suspect Steals From Stop & Shop, Threatens Employee, Leads Officer On Chase In Branford: Police

A shoplifting suspect faces numerous charges after allegedly stealing from a Stop & Shop in New Haven County, trying to attack an employee who tried to stop him, and leading an officer on a chase, police said.

Wallingford resident Joe Cottes-Lopez, age 31, is charged with stealing from a Stop & Shop store in Branford, threatening an employee, and leading an officer on a chase.
Photo Credit: *Google Maps street view/Branford Police Department*

Ben Crnic

03/27/2023 4:45 p.m.

The incident happened in Branford on Saturday evening, March 25, when an employee at the Stop & Shop at 22 Leetes Island Rd. confronted a man who had left the store with a cart full of items he had allegedly shoplifted, according to Branford Police.

When the employee tried to stop the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Joe Cottes-Lopez of Wallingford, he then allegedly took out a knife and swung it at the employee.

Cottes-Lopez then ran from the store before he was located by an officer, who began to chase him into a wooded area a short distance away where he was caught and taken into custody.

Police were able to recover the knife from the scene and verify what had happened with the help of several witnesses, according to Branford PD.

Cottes-Lopez is charged with the following:

First-degree robbery;
Second-degree threatening;
First-degree reckless endangerment
Sixth-degree larceny.

Following his arrest, Cottes-Lopez was detained on bond and taken to New Haven Superior Court on Monday morning, March 27 for arraignment.

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