2 Men Arrested On Assault Charges After Trumbull Mall Scuffle

TRUMBULL, CT — Two Bridgeport men were arrested on assault charges Thursday at the Westfield Trumbull Mall after Trumbull police said the two were involved in multiple fights.

Arrested were Lorenzo Carter, 26, of Sanford Place, and Deonte Sayles, 25, of Jane Street. Carter was charged with second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault, interfering with an officer, third-degree criminal mischief and breach of peace. Sayles, who police said is on probation, was charged with third-degree assault.

The two are accused of punching employees at the T-Mobile store in the mall, and Carter also was accused of assaulting an elderly customer and fighting with police officers outside the mall when they arrested him.

According to police, the incident began at about 2:30 p.m. when Carter went to the T-Mobile store with questions about his cell phone bill.

"Carter started to yell at the T-Mobile employee who was assisting him then attempted to punch the employee over the counter," police said. "Carter then went around the counter where he used both of his fists to punch the store employee in the face and body, injuring the employee. A second T-Mobile employee attempted to stop Carter’s continuing assault when Sayles intervened and punched the second employee in the head. Carter and Sayles then left the store."

While both store employees suffered injuries, one of them was bleeding from the head and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

As he was leaving the store, Carter yanked a cell phone from an elderly woman — pulling her hair and injuring her in the process — and threw the phone across the hallway and left, police said. The woman's injuries were minor, police added.

Carter and Sayles were found by police in the mall parking lot, and Carter fought with officers when they arrested him, authorities said.

Sayles was released on a promise to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Thursday, and Carter, who was wanted on failure to appear warrants, was held on bail of $180,000 and is also scheduled to appear in court on the 27th.