An award-winning Shelton cheesecake chef was charged Thursday with sexually harassing employees and touching them inappropriately.
According to a prepared statement from Detective Chris Nugent, police began an investigation in March 2016 after three employee’s of Dee’s Kitchen on Howe Avenue complained to police that 58-year-old Brian Stockbridge “was sexually harassing them and touched them inappropriately on several occasions.”
Eventually police got an arrest warrant.
“Information was brought forward to police that Stockbridge fled to California following an interview with detectives,” according to the statement.
On Thursday Nugent said police learned Stockbridge was living in Ansonia and arrested him at an address there. He faces three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault in the case.
Stockbridge gained some renown while running Stockbridge’s Gourmet Cheesecakes and Cafe, also based in Shelton, which won several awards, including “Best Cheesecake” kudos from Connecticut Magazine for 10 years running.
The business closed in 2014. Stockbridge, referred to as “Shelton’s Cheesecake King” in this 2015 Daily Voice article, then began working at Dee’s Kitchen.
Stockbridge posted a $5,000 bond in the case and is scheduled to appear at Superior Court in Derby Friday.
