Freezing Worker Trapped In Trench Collapse Rescued By Stamford Firefighters Freezing Worker Trapped In Trench Collapse Rescued By Stamford Firefighters
Freezing Worker Trapped In Trench Collapse Rescued By Stamford Firefighters Connecticut firefighters rescued a man who was trapped after a trench he was working in collapsed, burying him in dirt up to his thighs, authorities said. Stamford firefighters were called to Hampton Lane just before 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20, where they found the man trapped. He was alert and conscious when they arrived.  Rescue crews reinforced the trench walls with panels to stabilize them before they began to dig him out, Stamford authorities said. More than 20 rescuers worked quickly, digging in the dirt with their hands to pull the freezing man to safety. Firefighters and re…
Small Plane Lands On NY State Thruway In Albany, Police Say (UPDATE) Small Plane Lands On NY State Thruway In Albany, Police Say (UPDATE)
Small Plane Lands On NY State Thruway In Albany, Police Say (Update) A small twin-engine plane experiencing mechanical problems landed on the New York State Thruway in the Capital Region Friday, Dec. 20, New York State Police said. The incident occurred after 12 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, just south of Exit 23 of the Thruway in Albany.  First responders can be seen on the scene. New York State Police reported on X that two lanes are closed, and one is open. One pilot and two passengers were on board, and no injuries were reported, state police said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is on the scene. The incident come…
Man Told Child To Commit Suicide At CT Bus Stop, Threatened Neighbor He Did Not Know: Police Man Told Child To Commit Suicide At CT Bus Stop, Threatened Neighbor He Did Not Know: Police
Man Told Child To Commit Suicide At CT Bus Stop, Threatened Neighbor He Did Not Know: Police A 36-year-old Connecticut man is accused of screaming at a 12-year-old child to commit suicide and making threatening gestures at someone he did not know was arrested and charged this week, authorities said. Daniel Harold, of Haddam, faces charges of second-degree breach of peace and risk of injury to a minor following the disturbing Monday, Dec. 16, incidents, according to Connecticut State Police. A Haddam resident called troopers just before 9:30 a.m. to report that their child was waiting at a school bus stop when a truck pulled up and a man got out. Harold was captured on the family's…
Attempted Home Invasions Puts Fairfield County On Edge Attempted Home Invasions Puts Fairfield County On Edge
Attempted Home Invasions Puts Fairfield County On Edge Police in Fairfield County are urging residents to stay alert after two home invasions were thwarted early Friday morning, Dec. 20. The first incident was reported just after 3:50 a.m. in Westport, where a homeowner near Compo Beach called 911 to report someone breaking into their home. Officers responded to the scene and spotted a vehicle they believed was involved in the attempted burglary, but it escaped before they could stop it, Westport police said. Authorities believe the intruders were confronted before they could steal anything. About 30 minutes later in Darien, a Garden City Road…
Ex-VA Nurse Who Stole Meds From Dying Patients In CT Will Avoid Jail Time: Feds Ex-VA Nurse Who Stole Meds From Dying Patients In CT Will Avoid Jail Time: Feds
Ex-VA Nurse Who Stole Meds From Dying Patients In CT Will Avoid Jail Time: Feds A former nurse at a Connecticut Veterans Administration hospital's intensive care unit who admitted to stealing medications from terminally ill patients will not serve prison time, authorities said. Tara Severino, 58, of West Haven, was sentenced to six months of home confinement and two years of probation on Thursday, Dec. 19, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  Severino was a nurse at the West Haven VA Medical Center, where she stole pain medications like fentanyl and hydromorphone from patients under her care, according to prosecutors. She accomplished this in several ways, inclu…
1 Dead In Fire At CT Family-Owned Apple Orchard 1 Dead In Fire At CT Family-Owned Apple Orchard
1 Dead In Fire At CT Family-Owned Apple Orchard Firefighters found a man dead inside a Connecticut home on Friday morning, Dec. 20, following an early morning fire at a New London County family-owned orchard, authorities said.  The fire was reported shortly before 3:30 a.m. at 20 Kitemaug Road in Montville, and multiple other agencies were soon called to assist in battling the blaze, the Norwich Fire Department reported. Crews reported a partial collapse about 20 minutes later, forcing firefighters to withdraw.  Once firefighters were able to get inside they found the man — who was in his 80s— dead inside,  Authorities did…
Dual-Wielding, ‘Moaning’ Man Stabbed CT Friend Who Took Him In: Police Dual-Wielding, ‘Moaning’ Man Stabbed CT Friend Who Took Him In: Police
Dual-Wielding, ‘Moaning’ Man Stabbed CT Friend Who Took Him In: Police An argument between friends escalated into a grisly stabbing incident earlier this week when an intoxicated man, wielding two knives, attacked another, authorities said. Alan Frazier, 44, of Jewett City, faces charges of second-degree assault, threatening, and reckless endangerment following the alleged attack on Dec. 18, Connecticut State Police said. A Griswold man called police around 6:15 p.m. to report that Frazier, a homeless friend he had allowed to stay at his Main Street home, had attacked him with two knives and punched him in the face, according to a police report. The argument …
Good Samaritan Turned Hero Cheered For Actions After Downtown Stamford Attack, Robbery Good Samaritan Turned Hero Cheered For Actions After Downtown Stamford Attack, Robbery
Good Samaritan Turned Hero Cheered For Actions After Downtown Stamford Attack, Robbery Police in Connecticut are praising a Good Samaritan for helping a woman who was attacked and robbed earlier this week and for later helping capture the alleged suspect. The incident occurred Tuesday evening, Dec. 17, when an 18-year-old woman was walking in downtown Stamford near the intersection of Atlantic Street and Tresser Boulevard. A man tackled her to the ground and tried to steal her handbag, police said. Although she managed to fight him off, he grabbed her cell phone and ran away.  An unnamed 60-year-old man from Rockleigh, New Jersey, saw the crime and immediately took actio…
Squatter Found Dead At Yale Hospital ID'd As 38-Year-Old Man: Report Squatter Found Dead At Yale Hospital ID'd As 38-Year-Old Man: Report
Squatter Found Dead At Yale Hospital ID'd As 38-Year-Old Man: Report A man discovered dead in an unused office at a Yale New Haven Health clinic had been living there undetected, according to police, raising questions about how long he went unnoticed in the medical facility.  Hassau Powell, 38, was found last week on the sixth floor of the clinic on Howard Avenue in New Haven, according to a report from NBC Connecticut. Police say Powell was a squatter, but they have not determined how long he had been living in the building. “It does not appear that he was a danger to anyone at the hospital,” said New Haven Police Public Information Officer Christian B…
Drunk Driver From Norwalk 'Violently' Resists Arrest After Traffic Stop Near CT Line: Police Drunk Driver From Norwalk 'Violently' Resists Arrest After Traffic Stop Near CT Line: Police
Drunk Driver From Norwalk 'Violently' Resists Arrest After Traffic Stop Near CT Line: Police A traffic stop on Interstate 684 in the Hudson Valley led to a violent confrontation with an intoxicated Connecticut man who resisted arrest, authorities said. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, when a Putnam County Sheriff's deputy saw a vehicle driving southbound near Exit 10 in Brewster that was allegedly unable to maintain its lane, the Sheriff's Office said on Wednesday, Dec. 18.  After stopping the vehicle, the deputy identified the driver as 36-year-old Fairfield County resident Dimas Minero Argueta of Norwalk and noted that he appeared to be intoxicated, ac…
Passenger Killed In CT Crash With Officer ID'd As 23-Year-Old Man: Police Passenger Killed In CT Crash With Officer ID'd As 23-Year-Old Man: Police
Passenger Killed In CT Crash With Officer ID'd As 23-Year-Old Man: Police Police in Connecticut have identified the man who was killed in a fatal high-speed crash earlier this week when the car he was in careened into a police cruiser parked at a gas station, sending two others to the hospital, authorities said.  Panjala Neeraj Goud, 23, was killed early Monday morning, Dec. 16, when the driver of a Hyundai he was riding in lost control of the car and crashed into a West Haven police officer's cruiser, authorities said. Officers did not say where Goud lived.  The high-speed crash had left the officer seriously wounded and would likely be out of work for…
Ex-Westport Exec Who Stole $4.4M From CT Company In Crypto Scam Gets 4 Years: Feds Ex-Westport Exec Who Stole $4.4M From CT Company In Crypto Scam Gets 4 Years: Feds
Ex-Westport Exec Who Stole $4.4M From CT Company In Crypto Scam Gets 4 Years: Feds A former Connecticut finance executive will serve four years in prison for embezzling more than $4 million from his employer in a slapdash cryptocurrency fraud scheme, federal authorities said.  Dylan Meissner, 31, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison, followed by two years of probation, after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges, The US District Attorney for Connecticut said this week. Meissner must also repay the company $4,633,424.99 — $4.4 million of which he stole, and the rest is for a loan, authorities said.  As vice president of finance at a cryptocurrency …
Baby Injured By Glass As Man Smashes Truck Window, Strangles Mom at Fairfield Rest Stop: Cops Baby Injured By Glass As Man Smashes Truck Window, Strangles Mom at Fairfield Rest Stop: Cops
Baby Injured By Glass As Man Smashes Truck Window, Strangles Mom at Fairfield Rest Stop: Cops A Dominican Republic man is accused of strangling a woman and hurting her baby with falling glass after he smashed his way into a truck at a Connecticut rest stop on I-95, authorities said.  Ariel Dejesus Valdez, 28, who was in the US on a temporary visa, was extradited from Rhode Island on Monday, Dec. 16, following an alleged attack at the North Fairfield Service Plaza on I-95 on Dec. 7, Connecticut State Police said.  A woman who was riding with Valdez said they were returning to Massachusetts from transporting vehicles when they stopped at the Fairfield County rest stop t…
Fire Forces New Canaan School To Close For Day Fire Forces New Canaan School To Close For Day
Fire Forces New Canaan School To Close For Day A school in Fairfield County is cleaning up the mess following a fire on Monday night, Dec. 16, a report said.  New Canaan firefighters were called to the West Elementary School around 10 p.m. after receiving a fire alarm alert in the school's kiln room, per the fire department.  The fire was contained to the art room of the Ponus Ridge Road school, and firefighters were able to put it out quickly, according to the report.  Classes were canceled at the school on Tuesday as administrators and custodians cleaned up the mess.  The cause of the fire is under investiga…
CT Drunk Driver Clocked At 127 MPH, Racing Another Car On I-91: Police CT Drunk Driver Clocked At 127 MPH, Racing Another Car On I-91: Police
CT Drunk Driver Clocked At 127 MPH, Racing Another Car On I-91: Police A Connecticut driver faces a long list of charges after police say he was caught racing another car at more than 125 miles per hour on I-91 while intoxicated. Derrick R. Hannon, 43, of Cheshire, is charged with reckless driving, reckless endangerment, operating under the influence (OUI), and several traffic violations, Connecticut State Police said following his arrest on Friday, Dec. 13. Police were monitoring traffic on I-91 northbound close to exit 11 near North Haven when two vehicles — a red Toyota 4Runner and a white sedan — sped past, weaving through cars in what appeared to be an il…
Wrong Way Crash: Parents, Children From CT Injured On NY Parkway Wrong Way Crash: Parents, Children From CT Injured On NY Parkway
Wrong Way Crash: Parents, Children From CT Injured On NY Parkway Officials have revealed more details about a wrong-way crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Westchester that left six people hospitalized, including a former mayor.  The crash, which happened around 12:10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, in the northbound lanes near Lincoln Avenue in Rye Brook, happened when a 2024 Mercedes sedan driving south struck a 2018 Dodge Durango carrying a family of five, according to Westchester County Police Chief James Luciano.  The Mercedes was driven by 75-year-old Joan Feinstein of Rye Brook, Luciano said. Feinstein, a longtime community volun…
Fire Destroys Norwalk Family's Home Week Before Christmas Fire Destroys Norwalk Family's Home Week Before Christmas
Fire Destroys Norwalk Family's Home Week Before Christmas Firefighters in Connecticut battled a fast-moving two-alarm fire this week that displaced two residents and left a Fairfield County home uninhabitable.  Crews responded to 238 Silvermine Ave. in Norwalk at 7:21 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, after reports of a house fire and evacuation efforts were underway, authorities said. Firefighters arrived to find smoke billowing from the eaves and flames pouring out of a side entrance. Norwalk Fire Department The fire began in the basement, the Norwalk firefighters said, and quickly spread to the first floor of the 2.5-story residential home. Bec…
1 Dead, Police Officer Seriously Hurt In High-Speed CT Crash 1 Dead, Police Officer Seriously Hurt In High-Speed CT Crash
1 Dead, Police Officer Seriously Hurt In High-Speed CT Crash A high-speed crash at a Connecticut gas station left one person dead and sent two others, including a police officer, to the hospital with serious injuries, authorities said. West Haven officers were called to the Citgo gas station on Derby Avenue at 2:20 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 16, after a speeding Hyundai Elantra careened into a parked police cruiser in the station’s lot, authorities said.  Both the driver and passenger of the Hyundai were seriously injured in the crash, police reported. The officer, who was inside the cruiser at the time, also suffered a serious head injury. Emergency…
Speeding DUI Driver Was Nearly 2X Legal BAC Limit In Fairfield County Traffic Stop: Police Speeding DUI Driver Was Nearly 2X Legal BAC Limit In Fairfield County Traffic Stop: Police
Speeding DUI Driver Was Nearly 2X Legal BAC Limit In Fairfield County Traffic Stop: Police A Norwalk driver was nearly twice the legal BAC limit when police stopped him for speeding in Wilton last week, authorities said. Ankit Bhutani, 27, was behind the wheel of a 1989 BMW 325i and heading south on Danbury Road near Ridgefield Road around 12:02 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14, when he was stopped by a Wilton police officer unit for traveling 70 mph in a 35 mph zone and unsafe passing, the department said. During the stop, officers suspected Bhutani was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He failed to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests to standard and was arrested. Police said B…
Pair Who Flew Drone Dangerously Close To Boston's Logan Airport In Custody After Pursuit: Cops Pair Who Flew Drone Dangerously Close To Boston's Logan Airport In Custody After Pursuit: Cops
Pair Who Flew Drone Dangerously Close To Boston's Logan Airport In Custody After Pursuit: Cops Two Massachusetts men were arrested on Saturday, Dec. 14, after a hazardous drone operation near Logan International Airport triggered a coordinated safety response, police said. Boston Police officers apprehended 42-year-old Robert Duffy of Charlestown and 32-year-old Jeremy Folcik of Bridgewater, on Long Island in the Boston Harbor Islands around 10:22 p.m. Both face charges of trespassing, with additional charges potentially pending. The incident began at 4:30 p.m. when a Boston Police Officer monitoring real-time crime surveillance detected a drone dangerously close to Logan Internation…
Students Shelter In Place During 'Swatting' Incident At CT School, Police Say Students Shelter In Place During 'Swatting' Incident At CT School, Police Say
Students Shelter In Place During 'Swatting' Incident At CT School, Police Say Police in Connecticut rushed to an elementary school and students were ordered to stay in place after they learned of a threatening message sent through a Veterans Suicide Hotline on Friday, Dec. 13.  Police rushed to Greens Farms Elementary School in Westport just before 1:15 p.m. after learning of the threat. It was soon suspected to be a case of "swatting," a tactic where false reports are made to prompt large-scale emergency responses. Several other schools across the state received the same text, Westport Police said. Officials did not disclose what the threat said.…
Cops ID Pilot, Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash At NY/CT Line Cops ID Pilot, Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash At NY/CT Line
Cops ID Pilot, Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash At NY/CT Line Authorities have released the identities of both the pilot who survived and the passenger who died in a small plane crash that shut down Interstate 684 at the border of Fairfield, CT and Westchester, CT counties for hours. Kalmen Goldberger, 26, of Linden, NJ, had reported engine trouble before the single-engine Tecnam P-2008 went down in the center median of I-684 near Exit 2 in Harrison Thursday, Dec. 12 around 7:15 p.m., officials said. Goldberger survived, however, his passenger, Jacob Yankele Friedman, 32, of the Rockland County hamlet of Monsey, was pronounced dead at the sc…
Ex-Yale New Haven Hospital Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Patients' Meds: Feds Ex-Yale New Haven Hospital Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Patients' Meds: Feds
Ex-Yale New Haven Hospital Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Patients' Meds: Feds A nurse in Connecticut has pleaded guilty to tampering with medications at a prominent hospital, putting patient safety at risk in a disturbing case of drug theft, authorities said.  Sean Falzarano, 38, admitted in federal court to stealing and altering vials of Lorazepam while working at Yale New Haven Hospital, according to the US Attorney for Connecticut.  Lorazepam is the generic version of Ativan, a sedative used to treat anxiety,  Prosecutors said Falzarano used his access to an area where the drugs were stored on Jan. 31, 2022, stole one vial of the drug, and siphoned…
Stamford Head-On Crash Leaves 2 Seriously Injured; Road Closed For Hours Stamford Head-On Crash Leaves 2 Seriously Injured; Road Closed For Hours
Stamford Head-On Crash Leaves 2 Seriously Injured; Road Closed For Hours Police in Connecticut are investigating a serious crash that sent two people to the hospital late Thursday night. The crash happened on High Ridge Road in Stamford, seriously injuring both drivers and causing major traffic disruptions. According to authorities, the crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. near Cedarwood Drive when a 2008 Chevy Suburban, driven by a 55-year-old Stamford resident, drifted into the northbound lane. The Suburban collided with a 2019 Cadillac SUV driven by an 88-year-old New York resident. The impact was severe, leaving both vehicles heavily damaged. Both drivers had …
I-684 Reopens After Fatal Plane Crash In Westchester, Pilot Had Reported Engine Issues: FAA I-684 Reopens After Fatal Plane Crash In Westchester, Pilot Had Reported Engine Issues: FAA
I-684 Reopens After Fatal Plane Crash In Westchester, Pilot Had Reported Engine Issues: FAA One person was killed and another survived a small plane crash along I-684 in Westchester, NY, on Thursday night, Dec. 12, New York State Police confirmed. UPDATE: Cops ID NJ Pilot, NY Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash The FAA said that the pilot of the single-engine Tecnam P-2008 had reported engine issues before crashing around 7:15 p.m. The crash occurred near Exit 2 in Harrison, according to a statement from NYSP. Flight data shows that the plane departed from Linden, NJ. Multiple Jewish news outlets including the Monsey Scoop identified the person killed as 32-…
'This Was An Execution': Bridgeport Killer Gets 90 Years In Prison, Prosecutors Say 'This Was An Execution': Bridgeport Killer Gets 90 Years In Prison, Prosecutors Say
'This Was An Execution': Bridgeport Killer Gets 90 Years In Prison, Prosecutors Say A Connecticut man who gunned down a barber and wounded his assistant in 2020 will never spend a day outside of a prison, a judge ruled this week. Tavares Jefferson, 47, of Bridgeport, was sentenced to 90 years in prison two months after a jury convicted him of multiple charges, including murder, first-degree assault, and weapons violations, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said Thursday, Dec. 12. The violent incident, which shocked the community, took place on Oct. 2, 2020, when Jefferson walked into a Bridgeport barbershop and shot 40-year-old Jamain Allen six times, killing th…
Body Of Missing Woman Pulled From Waterbury Lake Days After Disappearance, Police Say Body Of Missing Woman Pulled From Waterbury Lake Days After Disappearance, Police Say
Body Of Missing Woman Pulled From Waterbury Lake Days After Disappearance, Police Say Police recovered the body of a 63-year-old Connecticut woman who was reported missing earlier this month in Lakewood Lake, authorities said.  Altragracia Gaton-Mateo's body was pulled from the water on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 10, when Waterbury police, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Dive Team, located her in the Great Brook Reservoir, also known locally as Lakewood Lake. Gaton-Mateo’s disappearance prompted a Silver Alert on Monday after family members reported her missing days earlier. She was last seen near Division Street and was believed to have been in the Garden Hil…
Man Dies After Jumping From Ferry In Bridgeport Harbor Man Dies After Jumping From Ferry In Bridgeport Harbor
Man Dies After Jumping From Ferry In Bridgeport Harbor The 50-year-old man who jumped from the Grand Republic ferry in Bridgeport Harbor has died, officials confirmed.  The incident unfolded Tuesday night, Dec. 10, when emergency responders were alerted at 9:08 p.m. that a person with possible mental health issues had jumped into the water, according to city spokesperson Tiadora Josef. Bridgeport police and fire marine units, the US Coast Guard, American Medical Response, and responders from surrounding towns rushed to the scene to assist. The man was pulled from the harbor and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead…
Danbury Neighborhood Tired Of Crime Fight Back, Lead Officer To Major Drug Raid, Police Said Danbury Neighborhood Tired Of Crime Fight Back, Lead Officer To Major Drug Raid, Police Said
Danbury Neighborhood Tired Of Crime Fight Back, Lead Officer To Major Drug Raid, Police Said Investigators in Connecticut said their latest arrest created a "notable disruption" in Fairfield County drug crime following a multi-agency investigation, and it's thanks to a group of neighbors fed up with drugs in their community.  Travis Vanterpool-Gordon, 32, of Brookfield, and Lisa Flynn, 53, of Danbury, were arrested following a multi-agency drug investigation that targeted suspected narcotics activity in the Division Street area of Danbury, police said.  Vanterpool-Gordon, 32, was taken into custody without incident after officers searched his 14 Division St. home and…
Child-Like Doll Found In CT Home Of 3X Sex Offender Facing Decade In Prison, Feds Say Child-Like Doll Found In CT Home Of 3X Sex Offender Facing Decade In Prison, Feds Say
Child-Like Doll Found In CT Home Of 3X Sex Offender Facing Decade In Prison, Feds Say A Derby man will spend more than 11 years in federal prison for a disturbing child exploitation case — his third conviction involving children — and violations of his supervised release, federal authorities said. Michael Szwarc, 36, was sentenced to 134 months of imprisonment, along with 25 years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said. Szwarc was previously convicted in 2013 in state court for possession of child sexual abuse material in the second degree, and again in 2022 in federal court for receiving such material, authorities said. ** WARNING: The following news…
Road Rage Attack: CT Man Assaults Elderly Driver, Smashes Phone in Brookfield, Police Say Road Rage Attack: CT Man Assaults Elderly Driver, Smashes Phone in Brookfield, Police Say
Road Rage Attack: CT Man Assaults Elderly Driver, Smashes Phone in Brookfield, Police Say A 78-year-old Connecticut man returned home with a smashed car, a broken cell phone, and a swollen face after a road rage assault sparked by a lane-merging dispute, police said. Jason Paul Maisonave, of New Milford, was arrested and faces multiple charges stemming from the incident just before noon on Friday, Dec. 7, on Route 7 in Brookfield, according to Connecticut State Police. The victim told police he was changing lanes near Exit 11 when a blue BMW accelerated to block him from merging. The BMW driver then cut in front of the man’s car and slammed on the brakes, causing the victim to s…