The brother of a Bridgeport man who last week flipped a U-Haul box truck on Interstate 95, spilling weapons and 11 pit bulls onto the highway, has been arrested and fined almost $1,900.
Christopher Pucci, 28, of Trumbull Avenue, Bridgeport, was charged with interfering with an officer and town animal-control officers issued him citations that carry $1,887 in fines.
Pucci was released after posting $500 bond and is scheduled to appear Monday in Bridgeport Superior Court, Detective Lt. Daniel Gombos said. Pucci's arrest stems from his attempt to pick up a female pit bull named Felony and 10 puppies that had been in the U-Haul, driven by his brother, Jason Pucci, 31, also of Trumbull Avenue, Gombos said.
Christopher Pucci was driving another U-Haul, which was transporting 16 Italian mastiffs, ahead of Jason's truck at the time of the crash, police said.
Animal-control officers did not release Felony and the 10 puppies to Christopher Pucci because of a continuing investigation by police into possible animal trafficking, Gombos said. "The dogs are here, and they're being held by a court order," Assistant Animal Control Officer Rachel Solveira said.
Instead, Christopher Pucci was given an infraction for failure to license 17 dogs, which carries a $75 fine per dog, and for failure to provide rabies vaccinations for 17 dogs, which carries a $36 fine per dog. Pucci also was given a written warning for cruelty to animals because Felony was severely underweight, Gombos said. Felony and her 10 puppies are doing well, Solveira said. The 17 dogs mentioned in the citations are Felony and the 16 Italian mastiffs. The mastiffs are also identified in the police report as cane corsos, a breed sometimes used in illegal animal fights. The mastiffs are believed to be among 21 dogs recovered at the former Pucci residence on Trumbull Avenue this week by Bridgeport officers.
Pucci was charged with interfering with an officer because he told Fairfield officers a false story on the whereabouts of the mastiffs when he tried to pick up Felony and her puppies, Gombos said. Pucci told officers he had dropped off the mastiffs in Kissimmee, Fla., Gombos said. But Pucci's U-Haul had 650 miles on its odometer, and the amount of time between the crash and Pucci's arrival at Fairfield's animal shelter wasn't consistent with a trip to Florida. Local police seized Pucci's U-Haul, Gombos said.
Meanwhile, the State Police investigation continues into whether Jason Pucci was legally in possession of shotguns, knives, a machete and other weapons found in the crashed U-Haul.
Maria Menoscal, 33, also of Trumbull Avenue and a passenger in Jason Pucci's U-Haul, was listed in stable condition Wednesday evening in Norwalk Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said. Jason Pucci was treated and released from the hospital after the crash. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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