8 takeaways from Vazzano arrest warrant
Trumbull resident John Vazzano, owner of Vazzy’s restaurants throughout greater Bridgeport, turned himself in Wednesday on a warrant charging him with one count each of bribery, hindering prosecution and interfering with an officer in the investigation of a sexual assault complaint of a 16-year-old girl at one of his restaurants. Former Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez is a central figure in the arrest warrant, which contains summaries of the investigation, including statements from several witnesses interviewed by investigators. Perez has not been charged with
any crimes in connection with the investigation.
1 The investigation was launched after the 16-year-old victim and her father filed a complaint in January 2020 about an alleged sexual assault months earlier at Vazzy’s in Bridgeport, which is owned by John Vazzano. The accused were employees at the restaurant. According to the arrest warrant, the 16-year-old victim’s father, who knew Vazzano, told investigators that Vazzano told him that he did not think his employees should be arrested and offered to give the girl a $1,000 Macy’s gift card and a job at another one of his restaurants.
1 Bridgeport Police Capt. Brian Fitzgerald told investigators he told Bridgeport Police Chief Armando Perez about the offer for a gift card and his impression that Vazzano wanted the girl to drop the complaint in exchange for the card and new job, according to the arrest warrant. Fitzgerald noted that Perez told him he didn’t want Vazzano to get “hurt.”
1 The arrest warrant details a conversation between Vazzano and an inspector, in which the restaurant owner appears to waffle about whether he offered the girl a $1,000 Macy’s gift card or not.
1 In a conversation overheard by a police officer, Perez allegedly tells Vazzano that if his employees are arrested, Perez would make sure it would not be in a way that would “embarrass” Vazzano.
1 Capt. Fitzgerald indicated in conversations with Perez, the chief continued to state his desire that Vazzano not be “hurt,” according to the warrant. He also said the chief was unhappy with the investigation and “was going to make changes,” which Fitzgerald took to mean he was going to remove the captain from his post. Fitzgerald said the chief did not tell them to stop the investigation.
1 Lt. Christopher LaMaine also noted conversations in which Perez said he was unhappy with the investigation and he didn’t want “anything to touch ‘the guy,’” the arrest warrant states. LaMaine stated he at one point was concerned that Perez was threatening changes as a way of “influencing the investigation.”
He also states the chief did not tell them to stop the investigation. 1 The arrest warrant recounts that two detectives separately asked Vazzano for the names of the accused employees, with the restaurant owner telling both of them he would get back to them, although he never got back to the first detective.
1 The arrest warrant asserts Vazzano lied about the suspects’ locations and work schedules when members of a task force tried to serve the arrest warrant to both men. One suspect has yet to be served and is believed to have fled the area, according to the warrant.