City man pleads not guilty to robbery

DANBURY-- A 43-year-old Danbury man pleaded not guilty Monday in state Superior Court to robbing a friend he drove home from a bar last month.

Armando Freitas, of Oakland Avenue, faces charges of third-degree robbery, third-degree assault and third-degree larceny for the robbery, which police said occurred July 9.

The victim told police that after they arrived at his Coalpit Hill Road apartment, he offered Freitas $40 for the ride. But Freitas saw he had more money in his wallet and demanded some of it, the victim told police.

Police said the two men began fighting, and Freitas knocked the victim out. When neighbors who witnessed the altercation revived the victim, he checked his wallet and discovered $780 was missing, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

A police officer then called Freitas on his cell phone, but Freitas denied taking the money and said his friend must have spent it at the bar, according to the affidavit.

Freitas remains in custody on $25,000 bond and the case was continued to Sept. 10.

jpirro@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342