Troopers Respond to Westport Crash, Locate Man Wanted in Missouri
On Saturday, 04/15/2023, at approximately 8:33 AM, Troopers assigned to Troop G in Bridgeport responded to Route 15 Northbound in the area of Exit 42 in Westport for a report of a collision.
Responding troopers were advised that the operator of an involved vehicle had fled on foot into a wooded area, possibly carrying a gun.
Upon arriving at the scene, troopers obtained a description of the evading operator, described as a male wearing dark colored clothing, who had allegedly run into a wooded area south of the accident scene. Fairfield Police and Westport Police responded to assist with the investigation.
A short time later, Westport officers located and detained a male on nearby Highland Road in Westport. The male initially provided investigators with a false name, but was later identified as George Vargas, DOB 07/27/2003, of New Haven. During a search for possible concealed weapons, troopers discovered that Vargas was in possession of a black taser-type device, which was secured and collected as evidence. When asked, Vargas explained to troopers that he had not been carrying a gun when he ran into the woods. In the interest of public safety, an extensive search of the surrounding area was conducted and no firearms or other weapons were located.
A records check identified Vargas as the subject of an active extraditable arrest warrant held by the Miller County Sheriff’s Office in the state of Missouri. The warrant was confirmed as valid and indicated that Vargas had failed to appear in court for the charge of Domestic Assault in the Third Degree.
As a result of information obtained during the on-scene investigation, George Vargas was taken into custody and transported to Troop G for arrest processing.
It was later learned that the vehicle allegedly operated by Vargas at the time of the collision had been reported stolen from the UCONN Stamford campus earlier in the day and UCONN Police were notified that the vehicle had been recovered.
Vargas was processed and charged with the following violations:
C.G.S. 14-236, Failure to Maintain Proper Lane
C.G.S. 14-224(b)(3), Evading Responsibility
C.G.S. 14-36(a), Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a License
C.G.S. 53a-167a, Interfering with an Investigation
C.G.S. 53a-217, Criminal Possession of an Electronic Defense Weapon.
C.G.S. 29-38, Weapons in a Motor Vehicle,
C.G.S. 53a-119c, Larceny of a Motor Vehicle
C.G.S. 14-296aa(b1st, Operating a Motor Vehicle While Using a Handheld Device
Bond relative to the above charges was set at $10,000.00 cash/surety.
Vargas was additionally charged with:
C.G.S. 54-170, Fugitive from Justice – Extradition Arrest Without a Warrant
Bond relative to this charge was set at $750,000.00 cash/surety.
Vargas was held and subsequently transported to Bridgeport Correctional Center pending his arraignment at Stamford Superior Court, scheduled for 04/17/2023.
2300152685 RT 15 North Westport_Redacted for Release
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