Two face charges in year-old theft, assault case

Two men from Bridgeport were arrested on warrants charging them with larceny over a year ago after their car was stopped shortly before 1 a.m. Friday on Kings Highway East at Fairchild Avenue.

According to the report, an officer parked in a lot on Kings Highway East heard a car engine revving next to a motorcycle at a light at Kings High East and Jennings Road and then saw a car accelerate and then slow down abruptly. The officer stopped the car at Fairchild Avenue, and Axel Lee, 20, the driver, told the officer he was "just messing with the guy" on the motorcycle and was on his way to drop the passenger, Sanjae Mendez, 20, off at Sky hookah lounge on Kings Highway, police said.

The officer discovered that there was an outstanding warrant for Lee's arrest relating to an incident in March 2011, when a silver necklace with imitation diamonds worth $900 was stolen from a person at Fairfield University and then punched in the face, breaking the victim's jaw and some teeth. A security officer at the university stopped Lee as he tried to flee in his vehicle with Mendez and, at the time, issued Lee a summons for possession of marijuana, police said.

Lee was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny and third-degree assault. He was held on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear July 16 in Bridgeport Superior Court.

Mendez was charged July 19, 2011, with felony assault, robbery, larceny and conspiracy for his involvement in the incident, but is awaiting trial.

Mendez's warrant stems from failing to appear in court in July 2011 for drug charges in Bridgeport. He posted a $500 bond and is due in court July 16.