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Bridgeport, CT

Ex-CT Councilman Gets 3 Weekends In Prison, Fine In Election Fraud Case: Feds Ex-CT Councilman Gets 3 Weekends In Prison, Fine In Election Fraud Case: Feds
Ex-CT Councilman Gets 3 Weekends In Prison, Fine In Election Fraud Case: Feds A former Bridgeport City Council member has been sentenced to three weekends in prison for a civil rights offense stemming from election fraud during his run for office, federal authorities said.  Michael DeFilippo, 38, received one year of probation, three weekends of incarceration, and a $15,000 fine, the US Attorney Connecticut said.  The charges relate to DeFilippo's campaign for the 133rd District in 2017 and 2018. According to court records, DeFilippo manipulated elections by stealing and falsifying voter registration applications and absentee ballots, forging signatures, an…
Man Guilty Of Sexually Abusing 8-Year-Old Faces Up To 165 Years In Prison: DA Man Guilty Of Sexually Abusing 8-Year-Old Faces Up To 165 Years In Prison: DA
Man Guilty Of Sexually Abusing 8-Year-Old Faces Up To 165 Years In Prison: DA A 62-year-old Connecticut man was convicted this week of sexually assaulting a child for months more than a decade ago, authorities said.  Heyward Curry, of Bridgeport in Fairfield County, was found guilty on Wednesday, Nov. 6, of three counts each of sexual assault in the first degree and risk of injury to a minor, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said.  Curry faces up to 165 years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 13, 2025.  Authorities said Curry sexually abused an 8-year-old boy for months in the summer of 2014. The child did not disclose the abuse …
'He Had A Bright Future': Family Remembers 29-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash 'He Had A Bright Future': Family Remembers 29-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash
'He Had A Bright Future': Family Remembers 29-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash The family of a 29-year-old Connecticut man killed in a Fairfield County crash last week said he could "brighten any room with his smile." Rohith Gurumurthy died around 1 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, when he crashed his motorcycle at 1080 Atlantic St. in Bridgeport. Zaveriya Shaikh, who was a passenger on the bike, was also killed in the crash, authorities said.  Both Bridgeport residents died at the scene.  Gurumurthy graduated this year from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield with a degree in health informatics and had big dreams for his life, a GoFundMe for his family said.&…
CT State College Housatonic's New CEO Holds Open House, Art Museum Tour CT State College Housatonic's New CEO Holds Open House, Art Museum Tour
CT State College Housatonic's New CEO Holds Open House, Art Museum Tour Connecticut State Community College Housatonic's new CEO is inviting the community to an open house and tour of the Fairfield County school's Museum of Art.  Dr. Patricia Benson, who was hired to lead the college in July, is asking the community to see what the school has to offer, including its art collection during an open house on Nov. 6 from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Bridgeport campus at 900 Lafayette Blvd. "This is also a wonderful opportunity to meet our faculty and staff and learn more about our vibrant community college," Benson said. "Whether you’re interest…
Man Busted In Tree Branch Attack That Sent 1 To Hospital: Police Man Busted In Tree Branch Attack That Sent 1 To Hospital: Police
Man Busted In Tree Branch Attack That Sent 1 To Hospital: Police A 56-year-old Connecticut man attacked someone with a tree branch, sending them to the hospital in Fairfield County, authorities said.  Oscar Espejo-Gonzalez, of Bridgeport, was charged with second-degree breach of peace, illegal alteration of a firearm, illegally carrying a gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, first-degree threatening, second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment in the first-degree, authorities said.  The alleged victim told police that Espejo-Gonzalez had attacked him with a tree branch on Maplewood Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 19, leaving a …
'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death 'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death
'Trusted Mentor, Loyal Friend': Community Grapples With Firefighter's Death A Connecticut community is preparing to bury one of its heroes after the longtime Fairfield County firefighter died earlier this week.  John "JB" Pyrek-Bennett, of Monroe, was just 55 when he died on Monday, Oct. 14, surrounded by his family at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, his obituary said. His wife of 29 years and three children survive him. Bennett spent his life giving back to his community, his family said. He served as assistant chief of the Glenbrook Fire Department in Stamford and was a lifetime member of the Monroe Volunteer Fire Department.…
He Molested His Cousins For Years, Now He's Going To Prison For Decades: DA He Molested His Cousins For Years, Now He's Going To Prison For Decades: DA
He Molested His Cousins For Years, Now He's Going To Prison For Decades: DA A 58-year-old Connecticut man who admitted to molesting his young cousins was sentenced to 50 years in prison, authorities said. Luis Rivera, of Bridgeport, who pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault in the first degree in July, was sentenced to decades behind bars last week, the State's Attorney said. As part of his plea deal, Rivera's sentence will be suspended after 25 years.  However, he must serve 35 years on probation following his release, the prosecutor said.  Rivera was arrested in 2022 after three people came forward to say he had molested them from 1994 throu…
'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend 'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend
'Words Can't Express This Pain': Woman Killed In Trumbull Crash Remembered As Beloved Friend Friends and family of a 40-year-old Connecticut woman who was killed earlier this week when the car she was riding in crashed into a stone wall say she was kind, caring, and effortlessly cool.  Marie Nieves, of Bridgeport, died on Friday, Oct. 11, in a single-car crash on Route 8 in Trumbull, Connecticut State Police said.  Investigators say the Mercedes she was in suddenly veered onto the grassy shoulder near Exit 6 around 11 a.m. before crashing into the wall. The driver, a 60-year-old Bridgeport man, was seriously injured in the crash.  Paramedics rushed them both to …
New CT Cannabis Dispensary Holds Grand Opening: Here's Where New CT Cannabis Dispensary Holds Grand Opening: Here's Where
New CT Cannabis Dispensary Holds Grand Opening: Here's Where A cannabis dispensary brand with several stores across Connecticut celebrated the grand opening of its newest location.  Higher Collective held a grand opening for its new Fairfield County cannabis dispensary at 3369 Fairfield Ave. in Bridgeport on Friday morning, Oct. 11.  The store, owned by Connecticut native Keanaha Abrams, will provide cannabis flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, edibles, tinctures, and more to Fairfield County's largest city.  Abrams said she was "incredibly excited" to open her store in a "dynamic and forward-thinking community."  "I’m proud to …
Suspected Carjacker Found Hiding At Unlikely Place — Police Headquarters: Officers Suspected Carjacker Found Hiding At Unlikely Place — Police Headquarters: Officers
Suspected Carjacker Found Hiding At Unlikely Place — Police Headquarters: Officers A man who led Connecticut authorities on a high-speed chase in a stolen car was easily captured hours later when he showed up at a police station to bail out his alleged accomplice, officials said.  Elijah Holloman, age 21, and Dominique Adrian Reid, age 26, both of Bridgeport, face several felonies following a chase on Thursday, Oct. 3, Fairfield Police said.  Their troubles began around 9:30 a.m. when they crashed a stolen Mazda into a Wilton Police car, authorities said. They sped away from the scene on the Merritt Parkway, sparking a high-speed chase.  Bridgeport Police …
6-Year-Old Dies After Baseball Bat Attack: Police 6-Year-Old Dies After Baseball Bat Attack: Police
6-Year-Old Dies After Baseball Bat Attack: Police A 6-year-old boy who was beaten into critical condition along with his 4-year-old sibling and mother has died, authorities announced on Wednesday, Oct. 2.  The attack happened at a Fairfield County apartment in the 2400 block of Main St. in Bridgeport on Wednesday, Sept. 25, authorities said. Officers were called to the home around 10 a.m. to reports of a vicious assault.  The two children and their 33-year-old mother were critically injured in the beating, police said, but they were later released from the hospital. Bridgeport Police announced on social media that the oldest boy …
Man, 80, Killed After Crashing Into Guardrail On Route 7 Man, 80, Killed After Crashing Into Guardrail On Route 7
Man, 80, Killed After Crashing Into Guardrail On Route 7 An 80-year-old Connecticut man was killed on Wednesday, Oct. 2, after his car slammed into a guardrail in Fairfield County, authorities said.  Fred Hunter, of Wilton, crashed just after noon when his Nissan Altima drifted across three lanes of traffic on the Route 7 connector near exit 2 just before the crash, Connecticut State Police said.  He collided with a guardrail, tearing about 100 feet of the metal off its posts and spreading it along the shoulder.  Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.  Police are not sure what caused Hunter to collide with the bar…
(UPDATE) Kids, Mom Beaten Nearly To Death In Domestic Violence Attack: Police (UPDATE) Kids, Mom Beaten Nearly To Death In Domestic Violence Attack: Police
(Update) Kids, Mom Beaten Nearly To Death In Domestic Violence Attack: Police Update: The 6-year-old boy has died from his wounds. The mother and 4-year-old have been released from the hospital. Click here to read the updated report.  Original: Two Connecticut children and their mother are in critical condition at a Fairfield County hospital after they were beaten nearly to death in a domestic violence attack on Wednesday, Sept. 25.  Abdulrahim Sulaiman, 38, is charged in the vicious attack, Bridgeport Police said.  Authorities were called to a home in the 2400 block of Main St. in Bridgeport around 10 a.m. to reports of an attack. Inside, police foun…
Officer Dragged Behind Car Trying To Stop Shoplifters: Police Officer Dragged Behind Car Trying To Stop Shoplifters: Police
Officer Dragged Behind Car Trying To Stop Shoplifters: Police A Connecticut police officer is recovering after being dragged by a car in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Fairfield County earlier this week. Two people were arrested following their escape.  Amanda Belcher, 41, and James Coates, 49, who both had outstanding warrants, face several charges following the theft and wild chase that followed, Fairfield Police said. Police were called to the Home Depot at 541 Kings Highway Cutoff around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, after store security spotted two people allegedly stealing more than $1,200 in merchandise, authorities said.&n…
New Britain Elementary School Off Lockdown Following Threatening Phone Call New Britain Elementary School Off Lockdown Following Threatening Phone Call
New Britain Elementary School Off Lockdown Following Threatening Phone Call Officials in Connecticut said there is no threat following a "swatting" call on Monday, Sept. 23, that claimed an armed intruder was inside an elementary school. It's part of a growing trend of hoax calls promising violence at schools.  Hartford County's Vance Elementary School in New Britain was forced to go into lockdown on Monday after a call was placed to the main office around 11 a.m., said Tony Gasper, superintendent of the Consolidated School District of New Britain in a message to parents, per NBC Connecticut.  Related: Dozens Of Connecticut Schools Have Received Th…
Teen Girl Busted Threatening Area School; More Than 20 CT Schools Have Received Threats Teen Girl Busted Threatening Area School; More Than 20 CT Schools Have Received Threats
Teen Girl Busted Threatening Area School; More Than 20 CT Schools Have Received Threats A 13-year-old Connecticut girl was arrested Thursday morning, Sept. 19, after police say they traced a threat made against a school to her. It's just another example of an alarming trend of people — often students — making threats of violence online toward local schools.  Ansonia Police in New Haven County were alerted to the threat made in a social media post just after 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. Officers contacted the school board and members decided to cancel classes for the day out of an abundance of caution.  The child is charged with first-degree threatening and disturbing the p…
Driver Critical After Crash Following Suspected Medical Emergency: Report Driver Critical After Crash Following Suspected Medical Emergency: Report
Driver Critical After Crash Following Suspected Medical Emergency: Report A driver suffering a medical emergency crashed into multiple cars in Connecticut earlier this week, leaving them in critical condition, a report said.  The crash happened in Fairfield County around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18, near the intersection of East Main and York Streets, NBC Connecticut reported.  A call to Bridgeport police was not immediately returned.  The driver, who is in their 40s, crashed into a vehicle, before mounting the sidewalk and hit multiple parked cars without stopping, the report continued.  Investigators believe the driver may have had…
Murder-Suicide: Man Forces Way Into CT Home To Shoot Ex-Wife, Kill Himself, Police Say Murder-Suicide: Man Forces Way Into CT Home To Shoot Ex-Wife, Kill Himself, Police Say
Murder-Suicide: Man Forces Way Into CT Home To Shoot Ex-Wife, Kill Himself, Police Say Police believe that a 47-year-old Connecticut man forced his way into a New Haven County home on Thursday morning, Sept. 12, and fatally shot his ex-wife before he turned the gun on himself. New Haven resident Miguelina Lebron, age 45, of Ansonia, was found shot repeatedly at her home on Westfield Avenue, Ansonia police said. Nearby lay the body of her ex-husband Yanis Tavarez, of Bridgeport, with a gunshot wound to the head.  Police were called to the home around 5 a.m. after receiving a 911 call. When they arrived they found the bodies.  An initial investigation shows that…
Man Wanted In Murder Of CT Mother Found Dead Man Wanted In Murder Of CT Mother Found Dead
Man Wanted In Murder Of CT Mother Found Dead A Fairfield County man wanted for questioning in the murder of a 27-year-old mother has been found dead. Related: 27-Year-Old Bridgeport Mother Found Shot Dead In Street, Person Of Interest Wanted Richardo Robinson, age 25, of Bridgeport, was a person of interest in the death of the young mother who was found shot dead on a Bridgeport street on Monday, Sept. 9. Capt. Kevin Gilleran of the Bridgeport Police said Robinson was located on Tuesday, Sept. 10, dead in Stratford. The Stratford Police have taken the lead in the "untimely death" case, he added. Next of kin have been notifie…
27-Year-Old CT Mother Found Shot Dead In Street, Person Of Interest Wanted 27-Year-Old CT Mother Found Shot Dead In Street, Person Of Interest Wanted
27-Year-Old CT Mother Found Shot Dead In Street, Person Of Interest Wanted Police are searching for a person of interest in connection with the shooting death of a 27-year-old Fairfield County mother who was found lying dead on a street. Related: Man Wanted In Murder Of Bridgeport Mother Found Dead In Stratford The incident occurred in Bridgeport in the 100 block of Seaview Avenue at 8:10 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9. According to Capt. Kevin Gilleran of the Bridgeport Police officers responded to a shots fired report and found the woman lying in the street on Central Avenue just south of the intersection with Seaview Avenue. Medics quickly arrived and confirm…
Allegedly Drunk Driver From Connecticut Charged In Fatal NY Crash Allegedly Drunk Driver From Connecticut Charged In Fatal NY Crash
Allegedly Drunk Driver From Connecticut Charged In Fatal NY Crash An allegedly drunk driver from Connecticut has been charged in a fatal wrong-way crash in Westchester. The crash happened just after 5 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8 on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Rye Brook, about a half mile south of King Street, according to Westchester County Police. Original report - 1 Killed In Wrong-Way Crash On Hutchinson River Parkway In Rye Brook Several 911 calls reported that a vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of travel had collided with another car.  Arriving officers found that one of the vehicles, a Toyota Camry, was fully engulfed…
Come On Down: 'The Price Is Right Live' Coming To Connecticut Come On Down: 'The Price Is Right Live' Coming To Connecticut
Come On Down: 'The Price Is Right Live' Coming To Connecticut If you’ve ever dreamed of spinning that big wheel, now’s your chance to “come on down.” Game show aficionados will have the opportunity to take part in “The Price is Right Live,” coming to New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts this fall. The live, traveling production brings the iconic television game show to life as randomly selected contestants play game show favorites like Plinko, Cliffhangers, and the famous Showcase. In true “The Price is Right” fashion, prizes will include everything from electronics and appliances to dream vacations and new cars. Lucky audience members can also …
Illegal Hartford County Street Race Ends In Blown Tires, Handcuffs Illegal Hartford County Street Race Ends In Blown Tires, Handcuffs
Illegal Hartford County Street Race Ends In Blown Tires, Handcuffs Several drivers who tried to put on an illegal street race in Connecticut found out they weren't fast enough to get away from police and ended up furious when their cars were damaged in the attempt, officials said. Police in Hartford County were called to the Route 571 connector, Polish Legion Highway in Berlin very early Sunday, Sept. 1, Connecticut Police said.  Troopers found several vehicles trying to block off the road to hold an illegal underground street race there. Responders started to break up the revving racers before someone was hurt.  But some drivers refused to list…
Firefighter Hurt, Family Left Homeless After CT Blaze Firefighter Hurt, Family Left Homeless After CT Blaze
Firefighter Hurt, Family Left Homeless After CT Blaze Connecticut fire investigators are looking into what sparked a house fire that left a family of five homeless and a firefighter injured.  The blaze began in Fairfield County around 8:20 p.m. at a house in the 40 block of Alpine Street in Bridgeport, authorities said.  Firefighters battled the flames for hours before they got it under control. Though it wasn't before the fire had gutted the home, authorities said. Luckily, the family escaped before they were hurt.  A firefighter was not as lucky. They were injured while working at the home. Authorities did not release the inj…
CT Man Sentenced For Violent Attack, Kidnapping Of Estranged Wife In NY CT Man Sentenced For Violent Attack, Kidnapping Of Estranged Wife In NY
CT Man Sentenced For Violent Attack, Kidnapping Of Estranged Wife In NY A Connecticut man has been sentenced to decades in prison for a violent attack and kidnapping of his his estranged wife on Long Island. Fairfield County resident Ubay Muhammad, age 38, of Bridgeport,  went to the victim’s apartment building on Colombia Street in Hempstead wearing dark clothing, glasses, and a mask and snuck into the building in November 2022, according to Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. The victim left her apartment with her 5- and 8-year-old children and took the elevator to the ground floor where Muhammad attacked her with a 13-inch knife,…
Spotted Lanternfly Located In CT, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say Spotted Lanternfly Located In CT, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say
Spotted Lanternfly Located In CT, If You See One Squish It, Officials Say The dreaded spotted lanternfly, which threatens trees, growing spaces, and urban canopies, has been spotted in Fairfield County. The latest sightings have been in Bridgeport parks and the community garden, according to the Bridgeport Sustainability Office and Parks and Recreation Department, which reported that residents spotted lanternflies in these areas. Both departments are asking residents for their assistance in getting rid of the dangerous pest.  City officials said that if you see a spotted lanternfly (SLF), please kill it; they are an invasive pest. "Look for the spotted red…
Teen Duo Nabbed For Armed Facebook Marketplace Robbery In CT, Police Say Teen Duo Nabbed For Armed Facebook Marketplace Robbery In CT, Police Say
Teen Duo Nabbed For Armed Facebook Marketplace Robbery In CT, Police Say Two Fairfield County teens were charged with robbery for allegedly pointing a handgun at a woman they had met on Facebook Marketplace to sell a pair of Air Jordan sneakers. The incident occurred in Shelton around 9:45 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, on Perry Hill Road. According to Shelton Police Det. Christopher Nugent, the department received a 911 call from a woman who said she met the man and woman on the social media app and agreed to purchase the sneakers. When the duo arrived at her home in a silver SUV, the victim said a disagreement started over the cost of the shoes, and she attempted t…
Man Nabbed With Gun, Drugs During Police Foot Patrol At Housing Complex In CT Man Nabbed With Gun, Drugs During Police Foot Patrol At Housing Complex In CT
Man Nabbed With Gun, Drugs During Police Foot Patrol At Housing Complex In CT A Fairfield County man has been charged with alleged possession of a firearm and drugs following a detail at a housing complex that had seen an influx of drugs and shots fired. The incident occurred in Bridgeport on Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the Trumbull Gardens on Trumbull Avenue. According to Sgt. Jorge Larregui of the Bridgeport Police, a high-visibility foot patrol in the housing complex, spotted five men loitering.  One of the men, identified as Javier Cabrera, age unknown, of Bridgeport, began to separate himself from the group and started running. A foot pursuit ensued through the h…
Infant Death Update: CT Man Charged, Held On $1 Million Bond Infant Death Update: CT Man Charged, Held On $1 Million Bond
Infant Death Update: CT Man Charged, Held On $1 Million Bond A Connecticut man has been charged with alleged cruelty to persons and risk of injury to a minor after an infant was found dead in a motel bathtub in a vacated room by cleaning staff. Related: Dead Infant Found In Bathtub Of Vacated Milford Motel Room Fairfield County resident Dale Kirkland, age 31, of Bridgeport, was charged in New Haven County on Wednesday, Aug. 21, by the Milford Police in connection with the death of the child found at the Mayflower Motel. According to Milford Police Officer Brianna MacDonald, the infant was found around 11:30 a.m. in the bathtub of a vacant roo…
CT Man Was On Drugs During Fatal Crash That Killed Mother, 2 Kids: Police CT Man Was On Drugs During Fatal Crash That Killed Mother, 2 Kids: Police
CT Man Was On Drugs During Fatal Crash That Killed Mother, 2 Kids: Police Authorities said a Connecticut man was on drugs and nodding off when he lost control of a fully loaded commercial truck and crashed into a car earlier this year, killing a woman and two young children.  New Haven County resident William Kundert, age 42, of Oxford, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies in the Feb. 4 crash in Beacon Falls, Connecticut State Police said.  Riquelme Alves Brito, 3, Laura Alves Brito, 6, and their mother Andreas De Brito-Alves, age 26, of Bridgeport, were killed in the crash, police said.  New Haven County resident Thiago Perei…
Arrest Made After Baby Found Dead At CT Motel Arrest Made After Baby Found Dead At CT Motel
Arrest Made After Baby Found Dead At CT Motel Police in Connecticut have arrested a man as a "person of interest" in connection with the death of an infant found in a motel bathtub by a cleaning employee. Related: Dead Infant Found In Bathtub Of Vacated Milford Motel Room Milford Infant Death Update: Bridgeport Man Charged, Held On $1 Million Bond The child was found in New Haven County around 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Mayflower Motel in Milford. Milford police said after the baby was found, they performed life-saving measures, but the child was pronounced dead at the hospital within an hour. Wednesday afternoon, M…