WESTPORT–When is a Honda not a Honda?

On Monday, the answer was: When it’s a Subaru wearing the wrong license plate.

The mystery of the imposter vehicle, which was parked on the Sherwood Island Connector, grew more curious when police checking it out were approached by a Bridgeport man who claimed to be the owner – and who turned out to be wanted, Westport police said.

A police officer investigated the Subaru when a license reader flagged the plate as cancelled. A check showed that the plate belonged to a Honda.

While police were looking into the matter, Eugene Dawson, 50, approached and claimed to own the vehicle – but could not produce a valid registration or paperwork, police said.

Computer checks showed that Dawson was the subject of an active arrest warrant charging him with skipping a court appearance. The charge stemmed from an original arrest by the New Haven Police.

Court records show that Dawson was charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, from a Nov. 11, 2024 incident, according to court records. Two charges of second-degree failure to appear, misdemeanors, were added on Dec. 20, 2024 and Nov. 7, 2025, court records show.

Dawson was released on $2,500 bond, with warnings about the various motor vehicle violations, police said. He is scheduled to appear at Superior Court in New Haven on May 11.