Suspect in McDonald's Robbery Appears in Court

STAMFORD — Dressed in a gray sweatsuit and shackled, Titus A. Snyder appeared in state Superior Court in Stamford Thursday on charges related to the armed robbery at McDonald's in Westport Jan. 11.

Flanked by two judicial marshals, Snyder stood for only a few minutes in front of Judge Gary J. White. Snyder, a 20-year-old Fairfield resident, is in the process of applying for a public defender, as is one of his co-defendants in the case, Carlos A. Navarette, a 19-year-old Norwalk resident. Since Synder was without representation, White continued his case to March 2, which is the same day Navarette is scheduled to appear in court.

The other co-defendant, Andrew C. Danzey, a 20-year-old Norwalk resident, will be represented by special public defender John Imhoff of Norwalk, according to the Public Defender's Office. Though initially scheduled to appear in court Thursday, his case was continued to March 22.

All three suspects  were charged by Westport police with first-degree robbery and fourth-degree larceny. They have been jailed in the Bridgeport Correctional Center since being arrested, unable to post bond. Danzey's bond is $100,000, Snyder's is $200,000, and Navarrete's $400,000.

Navarrete also faces felony charges for allegedly using a knife in January 2009 to rob a man who had just withdrawn cash from a bank's ATM on Winfield Street in Norwalk, and using a knife in June to rob a 72-year-old taxi driver in Norwalk.

Police said that during the McDonald's robbery two of the suspects were wearing gloves and black ski masks when they entered the restaurant through a back door when an employee opened it to take out garbage. One was said to be carrying a handgun wrapped in a bandana and another was brandishing a large kitchen knife.

The robbers took about $1,400 in cash and coins from the restaurant's cash drawers and safe, according to police.

Danzey once worked at the McDonald's, and police said Navarrete told them it was Danzey's idea to rob it. Navarrete also allegedly said the pistol used was a BB gun provided by Danzey and that Danzey drove them to the restaurant.