Cheshire Officer Gets Probation for Dog Theft Charge

In his second court appearance on charges of stealing a dog, Cheshire Police Officer Thomas Wright received probation at a hearing Tuesday at Waterbury Superior court.

Wright, 39, who lives in Naugatuck, was assigned to the state's accelerated rehabilitation program, which if completed, allows the charges to be dismissed.

The officer pleaded not guilty in a pre-trial hearing in October to charges of stealing a dog, obstructing an animal control officer and fourth-degree larceny. All are misdemeanor charges.

At the October hearing, Judge Richard A. Damiani ordered Wright to return a dog he's had for nearly two years to its owners.

The dog's owners, Lisa and Jose Queiros of Naugatuck filed a complaint on Oct. 6 stating they believed Wright, and his wife Dawn, had the Queiros' black pug dog named Dallas.

The complaint states that the dog escaped from the Queiros' backyard in January 2010. The family purchased the dog in 2007 for over $1,300 from a Naugatuck pet center, according to the warrant.

Wright has worked for the Cheshire Police Department for about eight years.
He was placed on administrative duties after the arrest warrant was issued. Wright has not returned a call for comment.

A settlement, or dispostion of the case is scheduled for early February.