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Connecticut State Police

Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In CT High School Bathroom Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In CT High School Bathroom
Students Sent Home After Police Find Fentanyl In CT High School Bathroom Students at a Connecticut high school were sent home early on Friday, Nov. 15, after police found fentanyl on the bathroom floor, authorities said.  The school resource officer at Howell Cheney Technical High School in Manchester noticed a suspicious powdery substance in one of the bathrooms just after 10:30 a.m., Connecticut State Police said. A field test showed it was fentanyl.  Cheney Tech students, teachers, and faculty were dismissed early so the powerful and potentially dead drug could be cleaned and safely removed.  “There have been no reported incidents of exposure …
37-Year-Old Killed On I-95 After Crashing Into Construction Equipment: Police 37-Year-Old Killed On I-95 After Crashing Into Construction Equipment: Police
37-Year-Old Killed On I-95 After Crashing Into Construction Equipment: Police A 37-year-old man was killed earlier this week after his car went off I-95 north in New London County and slammed into some heavy construction equipment, authorities said.  Paul Bigos, of Dighton, Massachusetts, was killed just after 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, between exits 88 and 89 in Groton, Connecticut State Police said.  Bigos lost control of his Subaru Impreza and drifted into the center median, where he crashed into an unoccupied piece of heavy machinery.  Paramedics rushed him to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, where he died of his injuries, authorities said. …
Wrong-Way Driver Collides Head-On With CT Police Cruiser: Cops Wrong-Way Driver Collides Head-On With CT Police Cruiser: Cops
Wrong-Way Driver Collides Head-On With CT Police Cruiser: Cops An 85-year-old man crashed into a police car while driving the wrong way on a highway in Connecticut, authorities said.  Gerald Lapointe, of Florence, Massachusetts, was cited after he crashed into a Connecticut State Police car in Harwinton in Litchfield County just after midnight on Friday, Nov. 15, police said.  In the police cruiser dash cam video of the crash, the trooper flashes his spotlight on the driver to alert him, but Lapointe continues driving south in the northbound lane of Route 8, about a mile south of exit 44, authorities said.  Daily Voice To protec…
4 Days, 2 DUIs: CT Man Busted (Again) After Driving Erratically In Front Of Police 4 Days, 2 DUIs: CT Man Busted (Again) After Driving Erratically In Front Of Police
4 Days, 2 DUIs: CT Man Busted (Again) After Driving Erratically In Front Of Police A Connecticut man who was arrested over the weekend and charged with DUI was arrested again four days later for driving while intoxicated, police said. It was the third time he’s been taken into custody for allegedly getting behind the wheel while impaired. Anthony Benvenuto, 54, of Enfield in Hartford County, was arrested just after 7 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, and charged with DUI, driving with a suspended Maine license, driving without insurance, and multiple traffic violations, according to Connecticut State Police. A state trooper spotted Benvenuto's truck on Interstate 91 near Exit 33…
CT Man, 56, Killed in I-91 Crash After Rear-Ending Trailer: Police CT Man, 56, Killed in I-91 Crash After Rear-Ending Trailer: Police
CT Man, 56, Killed in I-91 Crash After Rear-Ending Trailer: Police A 56-year-old Connecticut man was killed in a crash on I-91 in New Haven County, authorities said.  William Risley, of Watertown, died on Monday, Nov. 11, after he crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer truck on the interstate around 2 p.m., Connecticut State Police said.  According to the police report, Risley and the other vehicle were both in the center lane and had just passed exit 15 in Wallingford when the crash happened.  Paramedics rushed Risley to Midstate Hospital in Meriden, where he later died of his injuries.  The other driver, a 53-year-old man from S…
Man Peeped On Neighbor As She Bathed With Baby: Police Man Peeped On Neighbor As She Bathed With Baby: Police
Man Peeped On Neighbor As She Bathed With Baby: Police Authorities said a Connecticut woman who was bathing with her 1-year-old child caught her neighbor peeping into her window to watch them.  Joshua Gonsalves, age 34, of Andover in Hartford County, was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing in the third degree, disorderly conduct, and voyeurism, Connecticut State Police said.  The woman told police she was in the tub with her child around 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, when she saw a man watching them through a window. She recognized him as her neighbor: Joshua Gonsalves, police said.  Startled, she slapped the window w…
Man Killed After Crashing Into Tree In Willington Man Killed After Crashing Into Tree In Willington
Man Killed After Crashing Into Tree In Willington A Connecticut man was killed when his car left the road and collided with a tree in Tolland County, authorities said.   Paul Butcher, 80, of Taftville, was killed just before 12:30 p.m. when his car went off the side of Turnpike Road in Willington and hit a tree on the left shoulder of the road near Moose Meadow Road, Connecticut State Police said.  Paramedics took Butcher to Rockville Hospital in Vernon, where doctors pronounced him dead.  Police are investigating the crash. 
Wanted Man Runs Away After Crashing Car With His Kids Inside In Bolton Wanted Man Runs Away After Crashing Car With His Kids Inside In Bolton
Wanted Man Runs Away After Crashing Car With His Kids Inside In Bolton A Connecticut town was ordered to stay inside after a man wanted for questioning in an armed robbery crashed his car into a pole and ran away, leaving behind his two children and a woman in the vehicle in Tolland County, authorities said.  Kyle Joseph Fortier, age 33, of Windham, is charged with two counts of risk of injury to a minor, interfering with an officer, and evading responsibility, Connecticut State Police said.  Fortier was driving along Brandy Street in Bolton when he hit a telephone pole near Hanover Farms Road and spun out around 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1., …
'I Never Intended To Shoot Anyone': Man Turns Himself In Over Road Rage Incident 'I Never Intended To Shoot Anyone': Man Turns Himself In Over Road Rage Incident
'I Never Intended To Shoot Anyone': Man Turns Himself In Over Road Rage Incident A 69-year-old Connecticut man said he didn't plan to shoot anyone after waving his pistol at a driver who had cut him off in traffic, authorities said.  Joaquim Pereira, of Wethersfield of Hartford County, is charged with first-degree threatening with a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, and second-degree breach of peace in connection with the road rage incident, Connecticut State Police said. Pereira turned himself over to police on an unrelated warrant on Thursday, Oct. 30.  The alleged incident happened on Aug. 10, when a driver said they "accidentally" cut …
Drunk Teen Clocked Going 100+ MPH On Route 8: Police Drunk Teen Clocked Going 100+ MPH On Route 8: Police
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 Topped 100MPH With Kids In Back Seat Of Car In Marlborough: Police Woman Topped 100MPH With Kids In Back Seat Of Car In Marlborough: Police
Woman Topped 100MPH With Kids In Back Seat Of Car In Marlborough: Police A woman who was clocked going more than 100 miles per hour along Route 2 with her two young children in the car told police she was speeding because she needed to heed the call of nature, authorities said.  Brianna Guerin, 21, of New London, is charged with driving with no insurance, reckless driving, risk of injury to a child (two counts), and reckless endangerment in the second degree, Connecticut State Police said.  Police spotted Guerin just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, on Route 2 in Marlborough driving at 109 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone, authorities said. …
'Gone Too Soon': Friends Mourn 23-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash 'Gone Too Soon': Friends Mourn 23-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash
'Gone Too Soon': Friends Mourn 23-Year-Old Killed In Motorcycle Crash Loved ones of a Connecticut man killed in a crash on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 24, said he was a caring, funny, and loving young man. Peter Bienasz, of Plainville in Hartford County, was riding behind a Toyota Prius on Route 72 near the I-84 on-ramp, when he crashed into the back of the car, causing him to slam into a metal guardrail around 12:14 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, Connecticut State Police said. He was tossed from his bike and died at the scene.  Original Report: Police Detail Crash That Killed 23-Year-Old Motorcyclist Facebook/Peter Bienasz Memorials poured in on social medi…
23-Year-Old Killed In Wreck After Motorcycle Crashes Into Guardrail: Police 23-Year-Old Killed In Wreck After Motorcycle Crashes Into Guardrail: Police
23-Year-Old Killed In Wreck After Motorcycle Crashes Into Guardrail: Police A 23-year-old Connecticut man was killed Thursday, Oct. 24, when he wrecked his motorcycle into a guardrail, authorities said.  Peter Bienasz, of Plainville in Hartford County, was riding behind a Toyota Prius on Route 72 near the I-84 on-ramp, when he crashed into the back of the car, causing him to careen into a metal guardrail around 12:14 p.m., Connecticut State Police said.  Bienasz was thrown from his motorcycle, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, authorities said.  The Prius' driver and passenger, both of New Britain, were not injured in the Plainville c…
Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police
Women Claimed Elite Hackers Made Her Life A Nightmare For Years, But She Did It All: Police A 63-year-old Connecticut woman told police for years she and another person were the target of an ongoing online harassment campaign that lasted years by an anonymous person who made their lives miserable. But she was sending the messages and threats, police in New Haven County said.  Deborah Ann Calloutas, age 63, of Wolcott, is facing several felonies linked to the alleged faked harassment that went on for years, Connecticut State Police said.  Calloutas first reached out to police in 2021 to say she and her unnamed friend were the targets of hackers who were doctoring their ph…
Secretary Stole $40K From RHAM High School For Amazon Shopping Sprees: Cops Secretary Stole $40K From RHAM High School For Amazon Shopping Sprees: Cops
Secretary Stole $40K From Rham High School For Amazon Shopping Sprees: Cops Police are accusing a secretary at a Connecticut high school of using the administration's Amazon account to spend more than $40,000 over five years on gifts for herself and other employees at the Tolland County school, authorities said.  Christine Vardanian, age 56, of Marlborough in Hartford County, is charged with first-degree larceny, Connecticut State Police said on Wednesday, Oct. 23. She was later released after posting a $5,000 bail, authorities said.  Vardanian worked as a secretary at RHAM High School and had access to the district's Amazon account. School officials beca…
2 Killed In Fiery Crash ID'd As 39-Year-Old Woman, 59-Year-Old Man 2 Killed In Fiery Crash ID'd As 39-Year-Old Woman, 59-Year-Old Man
2 Killed In Fiery Crash ID'd As 39-Year-Old Woman, 59-Year-Old Man Connecticut police have identified the man and woman who were killed after their car crashed into a tree and burst into flames earlier this month in Hartford County.  Tiffany Cormier, age 39, and Russell "Russ" Bunn, 59, both of Bristol, were identified as the victims in a single-vehicle crash at 61 Johnnycake Mountain Road in Burlington just after 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, Connecticut State Police said. Original Report: 2 Killed After Car Careens Off Road Into Tree Police said Cormier was behind the wheel of a Ford Taurus that veered onto the shoulder of the road for an unk…
Tractor-Trailer Rollover Crash Causes Fuel Spill, Sends Several To Hospital Tractor-Trailer Rollover Crash Causes Fuel Spill, Sends Several To Hospital
Tractor-Trailer Rollover Crash Causes Fuel Spill, Sends Several To Hospital Several people were hospitalized Sunday night, Oct. 20, after a tractor-trailer rollover crash that spilled fuel along I-84 in Hartford County, police said.  The crash was reported around 11:30 p.m. near eastbound Exit 39 after a car crashed into the truck carrying produce, causing it to roll, Connecticut State Police said.  The truck landed on its side and leaked fuel along the highway. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded to the crash to deal with the clean-up, authorities said.  Several people were injured in the crash, though none of their…
Aggressive Driver Topped 120 MPH While Weaving Through Traffic: Police Aggressive Driver Topped 120 MPH While Weaving Through Traffic: Police
Aggressive Driver Topped 120 MPH While Weaving Through Traffic: Police A 22-year-old Connecticut man was caught speeding at more than 120 mph on Sunday, Oct. 20, while aggressively driving through New London County.  Louis Dieu, 22, of Norwich, was busted as he aggressively weaved through traffic along Route 2 in Bozrah just before 7 p.m., Connecticut State Police said.  A state trooper followed Dieu's silver Range Rover for several miles and saw him tailgating other drivers and passing on the right at triple-digit speeds, authorities said.  He complied with a traffic stop, and authorities charged him with reckless driving. He was later re…
Man Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver Remembered As Hardworking Dad, Grandfather Man Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver Remembered As Hardworking Dad, Grandfather
Man Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver Remembered As Hardworking Dad, Grandfather Family and friends of Richard Dupont said he was walking home from work when an alleged drunk driver crashed into him and killed him.  The 55-year-old Jewett City man was hit as he walked along River Road in Lisbon around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14, Connecticut State Police said. Friends posted online he was walking home from his job at Walmart.  Original Report: Pedestrian Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver The Griswold High School alumni had recently started working at the superstore, and before that, he worked at Better Val-U for 28 years, according to his obituary. Rega…
Wrong-Way Driver Killed In Route 8 Head-On Collision Wrong-Way Driver Killed In Route 8 Head-On Collision
Wrong-Way Driver Killed In Route 8 Head-On Collision A 30-year-old Connecticut man was killed early Sunday morning, Oct. 20, after driving the wrong way on a highway and crashing into an oncoming car in New Haven County, authorities said.  Aron Tyrell Vann, of Waterbury in New Haven County, drove south in the northbound lanes along Route 8 in Waterbury when his Nissan Altima collided with a Jeep Cherokee just after 3 a.m., Connecticut State Police said.  Paramedics rushed Vann to Waterbury Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.  The Jeep driver, a 36-year-old from Allentown, Pennsylvania, suffered minor injurie…
88-Year-Old ID'd As Driver Killed In I-91 Crash With Work Truck 88-Year-Old ID'd As Driver Killed In I-91 Crash With Work Truck
88-Year-Old ID'd As Driver Killed In I-91 Crash With Work Truck Police have identified an 88-year-old Connecticut man as the driver who was killed when he crashed into a truck in Hartford County on Friday afternoon, Oct. 18.  William Higgins was driving south on Route 5 in Enfield when he left the road, went through a wooded grassy area onto I-91, and crashed into the truck around 2:30 p.m., Connecticut State Police said.  Paramedics rushed the Enfield man to Hartford Hospital, where he died of his wounds.  Responders also took the Lot and More work truck driver to the hospital for minor injuries.  Police are investigating the cras…
28-Year-Old ID'd As Driver Killed In Rollover Crash After Truck Hits Stone Wall 28-Year-Old ID'd As Driver Killed In Rollover Crash After Truck Hits Stone Wall
28-Year-Old ID'd As Driver Killed In Rollover Crash After Truck Hits Stone Wall A 28-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Thursday morning, Oct. 18, in Hartford County, authorities said.  Guage Reichler was driving his Chevrolet Trailblazer along Stafford Avenue in Burlington just before 9 a.m. when his truck veered off the road for an unknown reason, crashed into a stone wall, and rolled over, Connecticut State Police said.  Paramedics pronounced the Burlington man dead at the scene, authorities said.  The circumstances around the crash are under investigation. Authorities ask anyone who witnessed the wreck or has dashcam …
55-Year-Old ID'd As Man Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver 55-Year-Old ID'd As Man Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver
55-Year-Old ID'd As Man Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver Police have identified the man who was hit and killed earlier this week when a truck went off the side of the road and struck him as he was walking, authorities said.  Richard Dupont, of Jewett City in New London County, was killed on Monday, Oct. 14, as he walked along River Road in Lisbon around 10:30 p.m., State Police said.  William Stonier, of Ledyard, was behind the wheel of the truck. Police believe he was intoxicated when he crashed into Dupont, authorities said.  Connecticut State Police Stonier is charged with driving under the influence and illegal possession of…
Drunk, Uninsured Wrong-Way Driver Collides With Car On I-84: Police Drunk, Uninsured Wrong-Way Driver Collides With Car On I-84: Police
Drunk, Uninsured Wrong-Way Driver Collides With Car On I-84: Police Connecticut police say an intoxicated, unlicensed, and uninsured driver collided with an oncoming car, causing a chain-reaction crash, and then running away earlier this week. Wilmer Vizcaino, 29, of Waterbury in New Haven County, faces several felonies from the 9 p.m. crash on Wednesday, Oct. 16, Connecticut State Police said.  Troopers in East Hartford were notified of the wrong-way driver when a detection censor went off about a minute before the crash at Exit 56 on I-84. Investigators said Vizcaino crashed head-on with a car taking the ramp, which sent that vehicle careening i…
Driver Was Intoxicated When He Hit, Killed Pedestrian: Police Driver Was Intoxicated When He Hit, Killed Pedestrian: Police
Driver Was Intoxicated When He Hit, Killed Pedestrian: Police A 36-year-old Connecticut man was intoxicated when he crashed his truck into a pedestrian in New London County earlier this week, state police said.  William Stonier, of Ledyard, is charged with driving under the influence and illegal possession of a firearm while intoxicated, Connecticut State Police said.  Investigators said Stonier's Dodge Ram went off of the right side of River Road in Lisbon and crashed into a pedestrian around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12. The red pick-up hit a guardrail and kept going until it crashed into a telephone police, authorities continued.&nb…
Arsonist Torches $1M Worth Of Vehicles In Secluded Construction Yard Arsonist Torches $1M Worth Of Vehicles In Secluded Construction Yard
Arsonist Torches $1M Worth Of Vehicles In Secluded Construction Yard Connecticut State Police are asking for the public's help to track down an arsonist who caused $1 million in damages after they torched construction equipment in Hartford County.  Hammonasset Construction told police that someone set ablaze several vehicles parked in a secluded construction yard near exit 39A on I-84 in Farmington, authorities said.  The company said the fire happened over the weekend, Oct. 12-13.  Investigators said the fires would have been visible from both sides of the interstate. They ask anyone who saw the fire or has information on who set i…
2 Killed In Fiery Crash After Car Careens Into Tree 2 Killed In Fiery Crash After Car Careens Into Tree
2 Killed In Fiery Crash After Car Careens Into Tree Two people were killed this weekend in a fiery car crash in Hartford County, authorities said.  A Ford Taurus crashed near 61 Johnnycake Mountain Road in Burlington just after 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, Connecticut State Police said.  The Ford veered onto the shoulder of the road for an unknown reason before hitting a mailbox and being launched into a tree, police said. The car burst into flames, killing the passenger and driver.  Police have not released their names as they notify their next of kin.  The crash remains under investigation.  Officials ask anyon…
Semi-Pro Football Player Killed In CT Rollover Crash On I-91 Semi-Pro Football Player Killed In CT Rollover Crash On I-91
Semi-Pro Football Player Killed In CT Rollover Crash On I-91 A 22-year-old man who was a star running back for a Connecticut semi-pro football team was killed after crashing his car on I-91 in Hartford County, authorities said.  Davian Andrew Pallotto, of Prospect in New Haven County, died after he rolled his 2007 Cadillac CTS around 11:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, Connecticut State Police said.  Pallotto was driving north on I-91 when he veered across a lane of traffic onto a grassy median, where the car lost control near Exit 23 and began to tumble, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.  Pallotto played running …
'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 …
I-91 Lanes Closed After Truck Strikes, Damages Overpass I-91 Lanes Closed After Truck Strikes, Damages Overpass
I-91 Lanes Closed After Truck Strikes, Damages Overpass Connecticut DOT workers are cleaning up the mess and inspecting the damage after a truck with a crane mounted to it crashed into an overpass on I-91 in Hartford County.  The truck struck the Route 190 bridge overpass in Enfield around 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, forcing workers to close three out of the four lanes, Connecticut State Police said. It's unclear how long they will be shut down.  The crane arm damaged the bridge's metal and concrete supports, and engineers were on the scene to inspect the extent of the harm.  Exit 47W remained open as of 1:30 p.m., but driver…
Father Of 2 Killed In I-95 Wrong-Way Crash, Another Hospitalized Father Of 2 Killed In I-95 Wrong-Way Crash, Another Hospitalized
Father Of 2 Killed In I-95 Wrong-Way Crash, Another Hospitalized A 47-year-old Connecticut man was killed this week after a car going the wrong way on I-95 collided with his vehicle, authorities said.  Mark Palumbo Jr., of Madison in New Haven County, was driving his Mustang GT south along I-95 between exits 66-65 in Westbrook when the crash happened around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Connecticut State Police said.  A Cadillac ATS driving north in the southbound lane slammed into Palumbo's sports car, killing him, police said. The other driver sustained minor injuries in the crash, and paramedics took him to Yale New Haven Hospital for treatme…