Police Blotter: Burglary, Drugs, Minors Possessing Alcohol

The following arrests were reported by the Westport Police Department on Wednesday:

Lee Bates of Westport, 25, was arrested Monday at the Norwalk Court on charges stemming from three residential burglaries that occurred in May and early June of this year. Bates was appearing at Norwalk Court on unrelated charges. His bond was set at $60,000 and he is next scheduled to appear in court July 8.

Keith Burke of Bethel turned himself in to police Tuesday after being advised of a warrant for his arrest on a larceny charge. The original complaint was filed in May from the Loss Prevention Manager of Williams-Sonoma at 136 Main Street, according to a police report.

Burke, 37, was an employee there and was making fraudulent refund transactions and pocketing the money, which amounted to $32,000 over time, according to the report.

Rebecca Tash and Michael Hammer of Westport, both 18, were given an infraction summons Tuesday for possessing alcohol as minors. Westport police officers responded to a home on Bayberry Ridge Road twice for reports of a loud party, which Tash was hosting. The second time they arrives, police saw Hammer holding an open container of beer. There were several open and closed containers of beer found at the party. Both Tash and Hammer were issued infractions and the beer was confiscated and destroyed.

Umberto Pignataro of Bridgeport, 34, was arrested June 23 on a larceny charge stemming from a May report of a stolen ipod from Staples High School. Pignataro sold the stolen item on Ebay to a company in Boston who was reselling it, according to a police report. The item was recovered. Pignataro's bond was set at $10,000 with a court date of July 5.

Joshua Gharis of Norwalk, 23, was arrested June 24 on drug charges. Police saw him pass through a red light at the intersection of Post Road West and Sylvan Road. When stopped, the officer detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. When questioned about it, Gharis turned over a marijuana pipe that he had in the glove compartment. A further search of the vehicle revealed a packet of heroin and a bag containing needles, according to a police report. Gharis was issued a $500 bond with a court date of July 6.

Kashon Edmonds of Bridgeport, 21, was arrested June 25 on drug charges. Edmonds was stopped on Post Road East near the Fairfield town line for having tinted windows, according to a police report. While speaking with Edmonds, police learned he had been previously arrested for possession of marijuana. The officer deployed his K-9 to search the vehicle for contraband and was alerted to the area under the passenger's seat where he found eight vials containing marijuana. Edmonds'  bond was set at $2,500 and is next scheduled to appear in court July 6.

In connection with Edmonds, police also arrested Joshua Linley of Monroe. While processing Edmonds, his cell phone began to ring. The officer answered it and acted like he was Edmonds, making arrangements to sell the caller marijuana as he was requesting. Linley was arrested when he met with detectives at the pre-arranged spot in the commuter lot on the Sherwood Island Connector. Linley, 22, was arrested on a charge of attempting to possess marijuana and is next scheduled to appear in court July 6.