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Police & Fire
Mosque Fire In New Haven Intentionally Set, Authorities Say Mosque Fire In New Haven Intentionally Set, Authorities Say
Mosque Fire In New Haven Intentionally Set, Authorities Say With Ramadan underway, fire officials in Connecticut have determined that the blaze that broke out at a New Haven mosque was intentionally set over the weekend. Fire crews from several area departments were dispatched at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 12, to the Diyanet Mosque on Middletown Road, when a fire broke out, sending smoke billowing for several blocks. The fire reportedly started on the first floor before quickly extending to the second, causing extensive damage. Firefighters knocked down the flames within an hour, though they remained at the scene for several hours to check …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Third Teen Charged With Setting Shakespeare Theater Fire, Burglaries Third Teen Charged With Setting Shakespeare Theater Fire, Burglaries
Third Teen Charged With Setting Shakespeare Theater Fire, Burglaries A third teen has been arrested in connection with a string of arson fires, including the Shakespeare Theater fire, on the heels of the arrest of two other Stratford teens also charged with the crimes. The third teen was arrested later Monday, following the arrests of the other two teens by the Stratford Police, said Stratford Police Capt. Frank Eannnotti. Eannotti declined to comment more on the case, including whether the three are suspected in the recent arson fire of construction trailers at Silver Sands State Park. The names of the youths were not immediately released be…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Stratford Teens Charged With Setting Shakespeare Theater Fire, Burglaries Stratford Teens Charged With Setting Shakespeare Theater Fire, Burglaries
Stratford Teens Charged With Setting Shakespeare Theater Fire, Burglaries Two Stratford teens have been charged in connection with a string of arson fires, including the devasting Shakespeare Theater fire. The teens, reportedly students at Bunnell High School, were arrested Monday, April 8, by the Stratford Police with setting the fire that destroyed the theater and recent burglary incidents, said Stratford Police Capt. Frank Eannnotti. Eannotti declined to comment more on the case, including whether the two were suspected in the recent arson fire of construction trailers at Silver Sands State Park. The names of the two youths were not immediately released…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Reward Offered In Silver Sands State Park Fire Reward Offered In Silver Sands State Park Fire
Reward Offered In Silver Sands State Park Fire A reward is being offered for help in locating the person or people who intentionally set fire to several storage containers at Silver Sands State Park in Milford following a devasting fire that destroyed a $9.1 million park expansion. According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, investigators have determined the Sunday, March 24, fire in storage containers at Silver Sands State Park was intentionally set, said DEEP spokesman Lee Sawyer. In an effort to get someone to step forward, a $2,500 reward is being offered, Sawyer said. The fire started around 7:20 a.m.…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Know Him? Police Look To ID Suspected 'FireBug' Know Him? Police Look To ID Suspected 'FireBug'
Know Him? Police Look To ID Suspected 'FireBug' Stratford Police are asking the public for help identifying a man who is suspected of setting a garbage can on fire at a local gas station. The incident took place around 4 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, two days before the devasting Shakespeare Theater fire, at the gas station on the corner of Stratford and Beardsley avenues, said Stratford Det. Glen McGlynn. The man, a suspected firebug, was seen dancing in front of the flames before he fled the area, police said. Coincidentally, another fire was set just two hours later in the back of B.J.'s where a pile of lumber was set ablaze, McGly…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Starting Fire At Former Restaurant Site Man Accused Of Starting Fire At Former Restaurant Site
Man Accused Of Starting Fire At Former Restaurant Site A 63-year-old man was arrested for allegedly starting a fire at the former Tilted Kilt Restaurant on Old Gate Lane in Milford Thomas Macksey, of Milford, was arrested on Wednesday for reckless burning, criminal mischief and failure to appear, after Milford Police responded to the restaurant at 290 Old Gate Lane, for a report of a fire, said Milford Police Officer Joseph Dempsey. An investigation into the fire found that Macksey allegedly placed a cardboard box on the gas meter of the building and lit it on fire, Dempsey said. The fire caused minor exterior damage to the building, poli…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Who Burned Down Oxford House At Owner's Request Nabbed, Police Say Man Who Burned Down Oxford House At Owner's Request Nabbed, Police Say
Man Who Burned Down Oxford House At Owner's Request Nabbed, Police Say A Westchester man who was allegedly commissioned to burn a rental house down in Connecticut and attempted to elude arrest has been busted by police following a two-year investigation. Connecticut State Police announced the arrest of Yonkers resident Leon “Pops” Carson, Jr., who was allegedly set a mattress on fire at an Oxford rental home at the behest of the owner, Delores Lee, who had recently taken out a $300,000 insurance policy on the property. First responders received a report of a structure fire at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Route 67 on July 29, 2016. Upon arrival, police said that …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Firefighter In Fairfield County Caught With Child Porn, Police Say Firefighter In Fairfield County Caught With Child Porn, Police Say
Firefighter In Fairfield County Caught With Child Porn, Police Say A volunteer firefighter charged in March with arson was arrested again Wednesday and charged with possession of child pornography and promoting a minor in an obscene performance, according to the Shelton Police Department. William Tortora, 57, of Shelton, became the focus of an investigation into a fire in the parking lot of the Echo Hose Fire Company in February, said Shelton Det. Richard Bango.   In the course of the fire investigation, detectives seized Tortora’s cell phone on which detectives uncovered photographs and video of child pornography, Bango said. Tortora was arrested in conn…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Police: Volunteer Firefighter Charged In Connection To Shelton Blaze Police: Volunteer Firefighter Charged In Connection To Shelton Blaze
Police: Volunteer Firefighter Charged In Connection To Shelton Blaze A volunteer firefighter in Shelton is facing an arson charge after allegedly starting a fire in a pickup truck outside a firehouse during a dinner celebrating a former captain. The Shelton Police Department announced the arrest of Shelton resident William Tortora, 57, over the weekend, who is facing multiple charges, including arson, following an investigation into a suspicious fire that was started last month during an event at Echo Hose Company 1 on Coram Avenue. Detectives from the department launched an investigation on Feb. 3, which determined that a fire was intentionally started in t…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Former Fire Captain Charged With Arson Former Fire Captain Charged With Arson
Former Fire Captain Charged With Arson In less than a week, Shelton Police made a second arrest  in connection with a fire during a fire captain's dinner at a local firehouse.  Gregory Bomba, 45, of Newtown, surrendered himself Monday to police on an outstanding warrant in connection with a fire Feb. 3, during a past captain's dinner at Echo Hose Company #1, at 379 Coram Ave, in the rear parking lot, said Shelton Det. Chris Nugent. An investigation revealed that the fire was intentionally started in the rear of a pickup truck which was parked abutting the firehouse, Nugent said. Bomba was charged with arson, endangerment, crimi…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Suspicious Bridgeport House Fire Under Investigation Suspicious Bridgeport House Fire Under Investigation
Suspicious Bridgeport House Fire Under Investigation Authorities are investigating a suspicious full first-alarm house fire early Sunday morning in Bridgeport that may have been intentionally set. Just before 2:30 a.m., the Bridgeport Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 1367 Reservoir Ave.  Upon arrival, units found fire on the outside of the building threating to extend to the interior, said Ron Rolfe, Bridgeport FD deputy chief, who noted that quick operations by the members of the department held the damage to the exterior.  "Our Fire Marshal Division is working with Bridgeport Police to investigate the fir…

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by Daily Voice
Police & Fire
Video: Bridgeport Police Ask For Help Identifying Arson Suspects Video: Bridgeport Police Ask For Help Identifying Arson Suspects
Video: Bridgeport Police Ask For Help Identifying Arson Suspects BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Bridgeport police are seeking help in identifying the suspects in two attempted arsons at Sunshine Kitchen on Park Avenue in the past week. Bridgeport posted a video on YouTube from the two incidents. The first part of the video shows an incident from the night of Jan.. 9. A suspect in a dark hoodie and carrying a gas container walks up and starts a fire on the building's exterior. The second part of the video is from midday Jan. 12, as two suspects enter the store.  One suspect in a black jacket talks to the store clerk while the second suspect, in a gray Nike hoodie, …

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by Daily Voice