Cops: Arrest made after couple report knife-wielding pursuer

WESTPORT — A Bridgeport man has been arrested and charged in an attempted robbery that took place on Sunday morning, Westport police said.

Around 11:14 a.m., police were contacted by a couple who were victims of an alleged attempted robbery that occurred on the Ruth Cohen Steinkraus Post Road Bridge, police said in a news release.

It was reported that a man approached the couple quickly from behind and began walking in step with the male victim, police said. The suspect told the couple to bring him to their car and repeated the demand as he allegedly brandished a knife and threatened the woman, police said.

Police said the woman then darted across Post Road, evading cars in order to escape. Her husband followed her, and the suspect fled the area walking eastbound towards Jesup Road, police said. Neither victim was injured, according to police.

While officers were searching the area, a member of the Westport Fire Department said that he had seen a suspect fitting the description in the area of 302 Post Road East, police said. Officers located the suspect, identified as James S. Cummings, 41, of Bridgeport.

Cummings was arrested and charged with firstdegree attempted robbery, third-degree attempted larceny, carrying a dangerous weapon and second-degree threatening, police said. He was held in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Cummings had been out on bond at the time of this incident stemming from an arrest that occurred on Sept. 5 in which he was charged with two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, second-degree threatening, third-degree attempt to commit assault and seconddegree reckless endangerment, according to police.