Trumbull mall shoplifter pulled knife on security personnel, police say

TRUMBULL — A man caught shoplifting at a local mall Thursday afternoon brandished a knife at security personnel, police say.

Jonathan Sierra, 41, of Bridgeport, was charged with first-degree robbery and sixth-degree larceny, Trumbull Police Lt. Brian Weir said Friday. Sierra was held on $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in Bridgeport on March 27.

Trumbull police were alerted to a robbery at the JCPenney store in Trumbull Mall around 4 p.m.

Thursday, according to Weir. Loss prevention officers for the store had earlier observed a male suspect, later identified as Sierra, placing multiple pairs of jeans and a watch inside an open, empty bag he was carrying, Weir said.

When the loss prevention officers attempted to detain Sierra to recover the stolen merchandise, he yanked the bag away, took a black knife out of the pocket of his jacket and “displayed it in a threatening manner” before fleeing the store, according to Weir. Officers lost sight of him after he left, Weir said.

While canvassing the area, police officers saw Sierra sitting at the intersection of Main Street and Old Town Road in Bridgeport, according to Weir. He then boarded a Greater Bridgeport Transit bus that investigators were able to flag down nearby, Weir said.

Sierra was taken into custody without further incident and transported to Trumbull police headquarters, according to Weir. He had a lengthy arrest history that included arrests for alleged larceny, robbery, assault and drug offenses, Weir said. Investigators discovered a folding knife in his possession, Weir said.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, according to Weir.