UPDATED: Representative Allie-Brennan arrested Monday for shoplifting. Bethel Democrat was rushing to pay for items for hospitalized grandmother.

State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan (D-Bethel) was arrested Monday at a local Target store for shoplifting, Daily Ructions has learned.

The incident involved an item that failed to register on the self-checkout the former Jahana Hayes staffer has told others he alerted to the arrest. Bethel police were preparing a statement on the arrest Tuesday morning.

The Chief Majority Whip is serving his fourth term in the House. He represents the 2nd District, which is comprised of Bethel and part of Danbury.

Allie-Brennan, who told Daily Ructions this is his first arrest, provided the following statement:

“During a recent visit to the Bethel Target, two items in my armload of others were not scanned. I was in a rush to bring items to my grandmother in the hospital, was unable to get a bag, and juggling multiple purchases. I take full responsibility for the error and am working through the legal processes to resolve the matter quickly and respectfully.

I respect the law and Target’s right to enforce their loss prevention policy, and I remain committed to serving my community with transparency and integrity.“

There is little that is not captured on video at box stores, which have formal protocols for handling the loss of merchandise by alleged shoplifting.

UPDATE: Bethel police include the allegation that Target loss prevention staff recognized Allie-Brennan from previous observing him in the store. This adds an additional dimension to the story.

Published June 24, 2025.