Shelton police charged a Derby man Friday with the strongarm robbery of an elderly Shelton woman in her own garage.
Michael Dean, 55, was charged with first-degree burglary, third-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, and second-degree assault of an elderly person.
Shelton Police Lt. Robert Kozlowsky said in a prepared statement that the robbery was reported about 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 by the victim, a 73-year-old woman who lives off Coram Road.
She told cops she went to do an errand in Derby and then drove home.
“She pulled her vehicle into her garage and closed the garage door,” Kozlowsky’s statement said. “When she exited her vehicle she felt someone tugging at her purse from behind. The suspect pulled the victim to the ground and stole her purse.”
Police believe Dean followed the woman home, Kozlowsky said.
The woman was unable to get up after the attack, but managed to crawl out of her garage.
“The victim was outside lying in the snow and yelling for help for approximately 25 minutes until a neighbor heard the cry for help and called police,” Kozlowsky’s statement said. “EMS was called to the scene to evaluate the victim.”
Detectives responded and canvassed the area and were able to locate surveillance video, Kozlowsky said.
“The video and the subsequent investigation by detectives led to the identification and arrest of Dean,” the statement said.
Police said Dean was being held Friday on $100,000 bond and was scheduled for arraignment at Superior Court in Derby March 16.
