Bridgeport PD: Bounty hunter assaulted local woman

<p>Bridgeport police say they have video of a bounty hunter physically assaulting a city woman without provocation at her own home.</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 15, 2018, 6:46 PM

Updated 2,082 days ago

Share:

Bridgeport police say they have video of a bounty hunter physically assaulting a city woman without provocation at her own home.
"I'm speechless, to be honest with you," says Bridgeport Police Chief AJ Perez. "Nobody deserves to be treated in that way."
The bail enforcement agent, working for a private fugitive recovery service, allegedly manhandled 43-year-old Mari Vargas at a home on Jane Street.
She says it happened the morning of July 11. Two agents came to her door looking for a woman who no longer lives here. Vargas, a mother of five, says she has no connection to their investigation.
Perez says bounty hunters have more leeway under the law than police do when it comes to the use of force, but he says the troubling part is that the video shows no physical provocation.
"I don't care if you're a criminal or not," Perez says. "You just can't assault people and get away with that kind of behavior, and we're definitely going to be looking at that."
No charges have been filed at this point.
Ryan McGuigan, the attorney representing the bounty hunter, released a statement that reads: "My client is an authorized bail enforcement agent and acted properly and within the law. Miss Vargas, who is a convicted felon, interfered with the apprehension of a fugitive from justice and later tried to extort $20,000 from my client in exchange for not going to the media with the surveillance video in question."


More from News 12
1:53
Authorities: Fire destroys home in Spring Valley

Authorities: Fire destroys home in Spring Valley

1:55
Scattered rain overnight in the Hudson Valley; sunny skies Sunday afternoon

Scattered rain overnight in the Hudson Valley; sunny skies Sunday afternoon

0:33
Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

0:31
Police seek public’s help locating missing 89-year-old man

Police seek public’s help locating missing 89-year-old man

2:28
Doctors are seeing an increase in pickleball-related injuries. Here how to avoid them

Doctors are seeing an increase in pickleball-related injuries. Here how to avoid them

1:23
Westchester commuters, residents weigh in on official congestion pricing rollout date

Westchester commuters, residents weigh in on official congestion pricing rollout date

0:20
City of White Plains to impose new speed limit of 25 mph, effective in May

City of White Plains to impose new speed limit of 25 mph, effective in May

0:41
Farm-to-table distillery brings boozy beverages to Goshen

Farm-to-table distillery brings boozy beverages to Goshen

0:22
Westchester County Center to host free prom attire giveaway this weekend

Westchester County Center to host free prom attire giveaway this weekend

0:35
Westchester Craft Beverage Trail takes residents on tour of 2 dozen distilleries

Westchester Craft Beverage Trail takes residents on tour of 2 dozen distilleries

Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals

Special teams carry Rangers to a Game 3 win and a 3-0 series lead on the Capitals

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:52
Mother and daughter from Mount Vernon sentenced in pandemic-relief fraud scheme

Mother and daughter from Mount Vernon sentenced in pandemic-relief fraud scheme

0:32
Carmel police: Yorktown shoplifting suspects arrested

Carmel police: Yorktown shoplifting suspects arrested

0:52
'Kindness in a cup.' Sleepy Coffee, Too celebrates grand opening in Sleepy Hollow

'Kindness in a cup.' Sleepy Coffee, Too celebrates grand opening in Sleepy Hollow

1:53
Officials call for no-show Orange County legislator to step down after missing meetings for two years

Officials call for no-show Orange County legislator to step down after missing meetings for two years

0:34
Yonkers police: Man wanted for failing to appear in court for car break-in charges

Yonkers police: Man wanted for failing to appear in court for car break-in charges

1:57
White Plains dispensary pays it forward, spends green on legal help

White Plains dispensary pays it forward, spends green on legal help

0:49
Gov. Hochul signs $10 million literacy plan into law

Gov. Hochul signs $10 million literacy plan into law

0:28
Yonkers hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige, Pepsi team up to help women in the city

Yonkers hip-hop legend Mary J. Blige, Pepsi team up to help women in the city