BRIDGEPORT — A Shelton man, accused of fleeing after he struck and killed a pedestrian on Boston Avenue, was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bond on Monday.
Police said more charges are expected against 24-year-old Robert Dominguez including making a false statement for allegedly reporting his car stolen to cover up the crash.
He is currently charged with evading responsibility in causing a death and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
During Dominguez’s arraignment hearing Monday morning Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton lamented that she just had his alleged victim, 67-year-old Michael Zrelak, before her.
Zrelak was arrested two days before his death on motor vehicle charges.
Dominguez’s lawyer, Edward Gavin, offered condolences to Zrelak’s family calling the case a terrible tragedy.
“We are doing our due diligence at this point,” he said.
On Jan. 4, police responded to a call of a pedestrian versus car collision to find Zrelak, of Brookfield Avenue, lying unresponsive in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at Bridgeport Hospital.
Police said witnesses told them they had seen a black Mercedes sedan speeding from the crash scene. One witness photographed the car with his cell phone.
Police said they put out a broadcast for the car and a short time later were contacted by Shelton police. They had just received a complaint from Dominguez that the car had been stolen from his home in Shelton, police said.
Police said they subsequently found the Mercedes parked in a lot behind a condominium on Stewart Street. When police reviewed surveillance video from the condo they said they could see Dominguez walking away from the car.
— Daniel Tepfer
Hearst Connecticut Media Group