Crime & Safety

Police: Greenwich Man Said He Was 'Thomas' But Cop Figured That was Doubtful

According to Darien police, Robert Connolly gave a false name and said he had no identification on him when caught driving while his license had been suspended.


By David Gurliacci

A 45-year-old Greenwich man who was stopped by a Darien police officer and told the officer his name was "Thomas." But the cop had recalled seeing the man's mug shot and soon confirmed the man was lying, police said.

Darien police gave this account (an accusation not proven in court) of the matter:

On Friday, June 20, an officer was monitoring traffic on Stephen Mather Road when he saw a Lexus SUV pass by with Robert Connolly of Shore Road in Greenwich in the driver's seat.

The officer had recently seen an arrest photo of Connolly in connection to a separate case, so Connolly's vehicle was stopped. The officer was aware that Connolly's driver's license had been suspended.

Connolly said he didn't have any identification on him at all. When asked for his name, Connolly said "Thomas Connolly," which is the name of a relative of his in Darien. The officer knew that was wrong and later confirmed it.

He arrested Connolly on charges of criminal impersonation, interfering with an officer (for giving a false name) and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. Connolly was later released on payment of a $5,000 bond and was scheduled to be in state Superior Court in Stamford on July 1. 

Connolly later admitted that he gave the officer a false name because he wasn't sure if his driver's license was valid.

After Connolly was arrested, but before he and the police officer left for Darien Police headquarters to process the arrest, a woman arrived who is Connolly's girlfriend and the owner of the vehicle Connolly was driving. She was there to pick up the SUV.

When the officer asked her if she could identify Connolly, she said he was "Thomas Connolly."


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