Westport police have arrested an Oregon man accused of taking money from Fairfield County residents in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy and not delivering on the emergency generators he’s alleged to have promised.
Police said 56-year-old John Mech, of Seaside, Oregon, offered to sell and install generators at several homes in Fairfield County in 2012, during the clean up after the storm, but he never delivered what he promised.
In one case, Mech collected a down payment of $6,000, and requested another $9,750 to be paid when the work was done, police said.
Over several months, Mech failed to provide the victim a generator or perform any installation, police said.
After repeatedly trying to resolve the issue with Mech, the victim filed a police report and the department obtained an arrest warrant for Mech in December 2013.
Police said there are outstanding warrants for Mech from the Monroe Police Department and the Stamford Police Department for similar allegations. Police said the victims lost differing amounts of money.
After the warrants were active, Mech appeared to flee the state to avoid prosecution, according to police.
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He was taken into custody on Sept. 15 in Seaside Oregon after local wildlife, game control arrested him for an illegal fishing violation, police said.
After officials learned who he was, an extraditable warrant was issued and Mech and he was taken into custody. Stamford Police later transported him back to Connecticut for six counts of third-degree larceny and four counts of home improvement violations.
Mech was held on a $55,000 bond from the Stamford Police incident and detained by Department Of Corrections.
On Thursday, Westport police processed Mech while he appeared at Norwalk Superior Court for the charges of third-degree larceny and home improvement violation.
He was given a court appearance date of Oct. 2 and held on $10,000 bond.
Mech was returned to the custody of the Department of Corrections and is currently detained in Bridgeport Correctional Center on $61,000 bond.
