Shoplifting Suspect Faked Pregnancy to Avoid Arrest: Police

A 27-year-old woman faked a pregnancy, telling police she was going into labor in an effort to avoid being arrested in Southbury on Wednesday, according to Connecticut state police.

Denajia Bishop, of New Fairfield, and her fiance, Giovanni Torcasio, of Danbury, were stopped at the KMart at 100 Main Street after state troopers arrived to investigate a shoplifting complaint.

Troopers found more than $260 in stolen goods in Torcasio's car, state police said.

As they were arresting Torcasio, troopers determined Bishop had an outstanding warrant on her record and tried to place her under arrest. It was at that point that Bishop told police she was pregnant and was going into labor.

Police called for an ambulance to take Bishop to Danbury Hospital, but as EMS crews were checking on her, they found stolen items shoved into her sweatshirt, making her appear pregnant, according to police.

Bishop was not pregnant at all and only used the pregnancy excuse to avoid arrest, police said.

Bishop was charged with sixth-degree larceny and welfare fraud related to the original warrant for her arrest. Torcasio was charged with sixth-degree larceny.

Both are scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Jan. 5.

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