Former police officer arrested 3 times in one day, twice for DUI

John Biehn

A former Bridgeport police officer, accused in the past of drunkenly shooting up a city housing complex, was arrested three times in about 11 hours stretching into early Tuesday, following a Monday court appearance on a drunken-driving charge.

The first incident occurred just before 1:30 p.m., Vernon police said, when they pulled over 39-year-old John Biehn, of Southington, in the parking lot of McDonald's on Talcottville Road after receiving a call that a blue Hyundai Sonata was being driven erratically and on the wrong side of Route 83.

Biehn told officers he was coming from state Superior Court in Rockville, and he failed a standardized sobriety test, police said. Vernon police charged him with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Biehn's court appearance concerned similar charges stemming from a July 26 incident, according to the state judicial website. He entered an initial plea of not guilty and is scheduled for his next court date on those charges in January.

He was released from Vernon Police Headquarters on $2,500 bond posted by his wife, Bridgeport Police Det. Kimberly Biehn.

Then, at 8:20 p.m. Monday, John Biehn was arrested again on a drunken-driving charge by Wallingford Police. He was released once more on $2,500 bond posted by his wife, according to Wallingford Police Lt. Mark Mikulski.

A few hours later, after midnight, Wallingford police arrested John Biehn again. Police responded this time to a Wal-Mart, where he was being held by store security and accused of stealing various items. He was charged with larceny and released on $5,000 bond.

In 2006, John Biehn was acquitted of most of the charges stemming from a 2004 incident in which, while he was still on the Bridgeport police force, he allegedly went on a drunken rampage at the Marina Village housing complex, firing his gun at random and breaking apartment windows.

He was convicted of first-degree reckless endangerment and sentenced to one year of incarceration, which was later suspended. He was also sentenced to three years' probation and later resigned from the Bridgeport Police Department.

Biehn is scheduled to face the Vernon DUI charges in court on Dec. 22.

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