Update: Cooke Turns Himself into Branford Police

Update 1:15 p.m.

After 6 p.m. tonight, the New Haven Register reported that citizen Wayne Cooke turned himself into Branford Police after a for his arrest was approved by the Connecticut state’s attorney’s office.

The warrant for Cooke's arrest on second-degree reckless endangerment charges was in process since Nov. 3.

Cooke, 56, who wore a suit to the Police Department last night for his arrest, was released last night on a promise to appear in New Haven court on Nov. 29.

Police have sought the second-degree reckless endangerment charge on Cooke to keep people from touching or stealing his ‘DaRos Dishonest’ signs placed around town before the recent election. He admitted to police after using the gel that he intended to keep people from taking the signs but remains adamant that he "meant no harm."

The state statute states "a person is guilty of reckless endangerment in the second degree when (he/she) recklessly engages in conduct which creates a risk of physical injury to another person." In order to be found guilty, the judge would have to determine that Cooke "acted recklessly." The statute goes on to detail: "A person acts "recklessly" with respect to a result or circumstances when (he/she) is aware of and consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such result will occur or that such circumstances exist."

Cooke would have to be found to have "created risk of physical injury to another person" to be found guilty.

This morning by phone, Cooke stated that he does believe he is guilty of second-degree reckless endangerment and that his actions did not merit such an arrest.

Cooke told the New Haven Register he would be retaining an attorney.