Man Accused Of Fire Station Burglary Is Former FOX, CNN Reporter

FAIRFIELD, CT — A man accused of burglarizing the Fairfield Fire Department's headquarters earlier this month is a former journalist for FOX Business and CNN.

Lawrence Crook was arrested and charged twice Oct. 8, according to Fairfield police. Those incidents were not his first encounters with law enforcement, the New York Post reported.

In December 2019, Crook was removed from a Manhattan courthouse and issued a violation after he showed up with a glass crack pipe to cover a trial at the federal building, according to the Post. Crook told the newspaper he was framed.

The Post identified Crook as a FOX Business reporter and former CNN employee. Crook is listed as an assignment editor for FOX Business on the public relations platform Muck Rack, which also includes links to stories Crook wrote for CNN.

A FOX Business spokeswoman confirmed Monday that Crook is no longer employed by the network. Crook remains in custody in connection with the Fairfield cases, according to court records. His public defender, Cristina Angelone, did not immediately return a voicemail seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.

Crook’s first arrest in Fairfield occurred after he was found with suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, and was seen parking a sport utility vehicle reported stolen from a dealership in Queens, New York, police said.

Less than an hour after he was released on bond, he was taken into custody and charged again after he twice entered the fire department headquarters in the 100 block of Reef Road and rummaged through a fireman’s items, according to police.

Crook, 37, of Jersey City, New Jersey, is charged with first-degree larceny, drug possession, drug paraphernalia possession, third-degree burglary and first-degree trespassing, police said. His next court date is set for Dec. 4, according to court records.