State Police Looking For Man Suspected of Theft, Threatening Clerk at New Canaan Rest Stop on Merritt

State police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man they believe stole items the rest stop on the northbound-traffic side of the Merritt Parkway in New Canaan before dawn Thursday, threatening to reach for a handgun and kill a clerk when confronted.

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— This article originally was published by NewCanaanite.com.

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According to a post on the Connecticut State Police Facebook page, the man —described as a Hispanic male in his 30s or 40s, about six-feet in height with a small cross tattoo near his right eye — entered the Alltown Convenience Store and doughnut shop around 4:25 a.m. on Dec. 21.

He wore a large white or light beige colored vest, black jacket, blue jeans, white sneakers and a black ball cap with a red ‘C’ on the front.

State police described what happened with this account:

He stole several miscellaneous items from the sales floor without the knowledge of the cashier, then walked to Dunkin’ Donuts and tried to steal a plastic coffee mug.

When the clerk told him to hand the mug over, he did so and then, as he was leaving, “turned to the Dunkin’ Donuts clerk and stated ‘I’ll blow your f******g head off’ while simultaneously gesturing with his hands as if he were reaching for a handgun in his waistband.”

“A weapon was suggested but never displayed and the male suspect verbalized and gestured several times that he had a weapon and would shoot the clerk before walking out of the facility. He was accompanied by an unknown black male wearing dark clothing and a ball cap.”

The pair left the service area near Exit 37 in a black SUV. The suspect has been to the same service area many times in the past several months, but had paid for items with cash.

Anyone who thinks they may have any information or thinks they may know the identity or whereabouts of either males is asked to call Trooper First Class Marandola at Troop G-Bridgeport at 203-696-2500‬ or text TIP711 with any information to 274637. All calls and texts with remain confidential.