Police: Man was driving stolen car

TORRINGTON >> A city man is facing charges after police say he was found operating a stolen vehicle.

Louis E. McBurney, 58, of Brook Street, Torrington, was arrested May 23 and charged with third-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, improper use of marker plate, seconddegree breach of peace and operating unregistered motor vehicle.

An officer was dispatched to Water Street on May 23 at approximately 5:28 p.m., according to a probable cause report, to “follow up on a possible stolen vehicle” parked in front of the Four Corners Restaurant.

“Upon arrival I observed a primer gray Dodge Dakota pickup truck parked and unoccupied bearing a single Maine Marker,” wrote the officer. “A records check indicated the marker belonged to a 1988 green Volkswagon Jetta.”

The officer parked and waited near the truck. A man, later identified as Louis McBurney, got into the truck and started to drive away, so police stopped the vehicle on Prospect Street, according to the report.

“Following an on-scene investigation, it was determined that the vehicle was listed as stolen and was also unregistered and uninsured in addition to the misused Maine marker,” wrote the officer in the report. “McBurney then refused to comply with Officer orders in regards to his arrest.”

Police used pepper spray to subdue McBurney.

McBurney was released on a $5,000 surety bond and scheduled to appear in Bantam Superior Court on June 5. Third-degree larceny, according to state statute, is a class D felony, which can be occurred with the theft of a motor vehicle, valued at $10,000 or less.