Fugitive returned to Laurel City

WINSTED — A local man on the run from Winchester law enforcement was arrested in Rhode Island and returned to Connecticut as a fugitive from justice. Jed Rategan, 22, of Spencer Hill Road in Winsted was arrested by Westerly Rhode Island Police Department on Aug. 3 for fraudulent use of a credit card. 

Rategan is suspected of stealing a credit card from a Winsted resident and then using it to purchase hotel rooms and dinners in the Westerly area, according to Winchester Deputy Chief of Police Robert Scannell.

When Rategan used the stolen credit card at the Blue Whale Hotel, employees there noticed that the card had been reported stolen and alerted Westerly police. Rategan was arrested without incident, Scannell said.

When Westerly police learned there were six failure to appear warrants for Rategan’s arrest outstanding in Winsted, they notified the Winchester Police Department.

“And a couple of those warrants were for felony failure to appear charges,� Scannell said.

Rategan waived extradition and was transported back to Winsted on Monday, Aug. 9, where he was charged with six counts of failure to appear. He currently is being held on a total of $30,000 in bonds.

Scannell said although no charges have yet been filed against Rategan for the alleged credit card fraud, Westerly police are continuing their investigation.