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Waterbury Man Admits to Brutal Carjacking After ATV Dispute
A Connecticut man who threatened and assaulted two people over a stolen ATV—one of whom had nothing to do with the theft—has pleaded guilty to a federal carjacking charge, officials announced.
Michael McCann-Ortiz, 24, of Waterbury, who also goes by “Bando,” admitted in federal court to his role in a brutal attack that left one victim seriously injured and ended with the theft of a vehicle, cash, and other personal items, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Connecticut announced Friday, Feb. 28.
According to court documents and statements, the crime stemmed from the early morning theft of two AT…
(Update) CT Man Accused Of Crash Where Newborn Later Died, Arrested After 2nd Wreck: Police
Update: Police on Friday, Feb. 28, reported that Eric LeBlanc admitted to using fentanyl before crashing in Lisbon earlier this week. Click here for more information.
Original: A Connecticut man wanted in connection with a 2024 crash that led to a series of tragic events, including the death of a newborn, was arrested this week after being involved in a second accident, authorities said.
Eric Leblanc, 25, of Griswold, was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 26, following a crash in Lisbon, Connecticut State Police reported. During the response, troopers learned he had an active warrant.
Acco…
Farm Animals Found In Feces-Covered CT Home Ends Major Animal Cruelty Case: Police
A Connecticut woman is accused of neglecting more than a dozen animals — some livestock — in her feces-covered home for months, authorities said.
Victoria A. Lussier, 56, of Woodstock, was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 6, and charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty following the investigation by NECCOG Animal Control Services, who described her home as unfit for humans or animals.
It all started on May 17, 2024, when a neighbor tipped off animal control, saying livestock were living inside Lussier’s house, according to an affidavit for probable cause. When officers arrived, they were hi…
CT Man, 26, Charged With Shooting Into Car With 2 People Inside
A Fairfield County man has been arrested in connection with a late-night shooting that authorities say sparked a weeks-long investigation involving multiple police departments.
Devon Dotson, 26, of Stratford, faces several charges, including criminal attempt at assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment in the first degree, carrying a pistol without a permit, weapon in a motor vehicle, and illegal transfer of a firearm, police said.
The shooting happened around 1 a.m. on Dec. 30, 2024, when two people told police a white Hyundai Sonata pulled up near them in the 100 block of Dewey S…
CT Duo Charged in $1.8M Medicaid Fraud Scheme Claiming Autism Therapy: Feds
Two Connecticut men, already under state scrutiny, are facing federal charges for allegedly orchestrating a $1.8 million Medicaid fraud scheme that spanned years and exploited critical health services, authorities said.
Ramon Apellaniz, 39, of Middletown, and Suhail Aponte, 38, of Wethersfield, allegedly defrauded the Connecticut Medicaid program through Minds Cornerstone, a company claiming to provide therapy for children with autism, the US Attorney’s Office for Connecticut said.
Authorities allege Apellaniz, using aliases such as “Kristopher Rockefeller,” managed the scheme even wh…
Ex-Waterbury Official Sentenced For Hit-Run Crash That Left Teen With Severe Brain Injury
A former Connecticut zoning official has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading no contest to a drunken hit-and-run crash that left a teenager with severe brain damage, authorities said.
John Egan, 59, the former chair of Waterbury’s zoning commission, received a 10-year sentence on Tuesday, Jan. 7, with all but two years suspended, authorities said.
Egan struck Brian Calle, then 17, as he rode his scooter home from work just after midnight on May 26, 2023, at the intersection of Highland Avenue and West Main Street. Egan allegedly fled the scene, leaving Calle critically inju…
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…
CT Man Guilty Of Raping Woman Going For Walk Gets 12 Years In Prison
A Connecticut man will serve 12 years in prison for a violent attack on a woman walking along a sidewalk in Fairfield County last year, authorities announced.
Demetrius Hunter, 41, was sentenced to 17 years in prison, suspended after serving 12, for sexually assaulting a 34-year-old woman in Bridgeport on Aug. 9, 2023, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said Thursday, Dec. 5.
Hunter will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, according to Judge Robin Pavia's ruling.
During a two-day trial, the victim testified that she was walking along Iranistan…
Man Strips Naked In CT Restaurant, Shocking Families, Prompting Arrest
A man must have felt overdressed when he sat down at a Connecticut restaurant because shortly after he walked in, he disrobed and strolled through the building completely naked in front of customers, including several children, authorities said.
Andrew Kinghorn, 42, of Ellington, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 29, and charged with second-degree breach of peace and two counts of risk of injury to a minor, Connecticut State Police reported.
It happened at Papa T's, a restaurant on Merrow Road in Tolland. Employees told police that Kinghorn entered the restaurant fully clothed around 6 p.m…
Local Couple Accused Of $1M Lululemon Theft Spree Across 5 States, Including CT
A Connecticut couple has been accused of orchestrating a multi-state theft operation targeting Lululemon stores, resulting in approximately $1 million in stolen merchandise.
Jadion Anthony Richards, age 44, and Akwele Nickeisha Lawes-Richards, age 45, both from Danbury, were charged in in Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 22, at Ramsey County District Court with organized retail theft, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Their alleged activities spanned over two months and involved thefts in several states, including New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, Colorado, and Utah, the Star Tri…
Milford Man Intentionally Crashed Into His Fiancee At CT Shopping Center: Reports
A 34-year-old Connecticut man is accused of intentionally driving into his fiancee in a shopping center parking lot earlier this week and leaving her in critical condition, reports said.
Anthony Assad, of Milford, is charged with first-degree assault, evading responsibility, and reckless driving, NBC Connecticut reported.
Police said Assad sped up as he drove toward the woman in the 150 Barnum Ave. shopping center in Stratford Tuesday morning, Nov. 19, before he crashed into the woman, throwing her onto the Honda's windshield, per the CT Post.
Video shows Assad getti…
Drunk Teen Clocked Going 100+ MPH On Route 8: Police
A 19-year-old Connecticut man was busted going more than 100 miles per hour while intoxicated in Litchfield County last week, authorities said.
Jack Reynolds, of Harwinton in Litchfield County, was arrested and charged with having a weapon in a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs under 21 years of age, and failure to maintain proper lane, Connecticut State Police said.
Troopers clocked Reynolds at 109 mph in a 65 mph zone around 1:10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct 30, on Route 8 in Litchfield, authorities said.
The trooper got behind …
Woman Who Fatally Hit Waterbury Cyclist Then Sped Away Arrested: Police
A woman who police say crashed into a bicyclist, causing him fatal injuries, and sped away in New Haven County has been arrested weeks later.
Gloria Sanchez, 32, of Waterbury, was charged Thursday with evading responsibility in a death, criminal misrepresentation, and failure to renew registration, authorities said.
Investigators said Sanchez crashed into 37-year-old Luis Caceras, of Waterbury, around 6 a.m. at the Cooke Street and Grove Street intersection and then drove away.
After an investigation, police arrested Sanchez earlier this week.
A judge ord…
Woman, 26, Killed In I-91 Crash Caused By Intoxicated Driver: Police
Police say an intoxicated Connecticut driver started a three-car, chain-reaction crash on I-91 in Hartford County that killed a 26-year-old woman and sent others to the hospital.
Jada Marie Upshaw, of Bloomfield in Hartford County, was killed around 8:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, in Rocky Hill, Connecticut State Police said.
The crash happened when a BMW — for seemingly no reason — veered into a neighboring lane and cashed into Upshaw's Nissan near Exit 23 in the southbound lanes, a police report said.
Upshaw's SUV and the BMW tumbled down the highway, and the sedan s…
