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Thursday, feb 6
Police & Fire
CT Man Arrested After Killing Dog, Leaving Remains in Woods For Coyotes: Cops
A Connecticut man was arrested after admitting he shot his dog and left its body in the woods, authorities said. Wesley Bassett, 51, faces multiple charges after troopers found the dog's remains behind a home on Essex Road in Westbrook, Connecticut State Police said. A local veterinary hospital alerted police after receiving a concerning voicemail from Bassett about putting his dog down. When officers arrived, a family member directed them to a camper behind the house where Bassett lived. As officers approached, they noticed a large pool of blood outside the camper, along with a bloody lea…
Police & Fire
Duo Accused Of Sparking CT Shopping Center Fire, Causing $400K In Damages: Cops
Two young men face arson charges after allegedly setting fire to debris inside a Connecticut shopping plaza, causing an estimated $400,000 in damage, police said. Samuel Archer, 19, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Henry Hirsch, 20, of Ridgefield, are accused of deliberately lighting dry leaves on fire inside the stairwell at Heritage Square Plaza in Fairfield on Dec. 7, authorities said. What began as a reckless act quickly turned into a major fire, officials said. Fire crews rushed to 1700 Post Road around 4:30 p.m. The flames spread from the stairwell, sending thick smoke through the bui…
Police & Fire
CT Registered Sex Offender Charged With Soliciting Nudes From 10-Year-Old: Police
A Connecticut-registered sex offender was arrested this week after police said he enticed a 10-year-old girl to send him nude photos. Robert Cohs Jr., 56, of Bolton, was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 4, and charged with risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor, Connecticut State Police said. He was held on a $500,000 bond, which he couldn't pay. Police began investigating Cohs in July when a woman reported to authorities that she had found a Snapchat conversation on her 10-year-old daughter’s phone containing sexually graphic language. Investigators said Cohs pressured the girl to send nude …
Police & Fire
CT Man Charged With Child Porn As Police Investigate Wife's Death
A months-long investigation into a fatal house fire led to the arrest of a Connecticut man on child pornography charges, officials said. John T. Fairchild, 66, New Fairfield, was arrested Tuesday morning, Feb. 4, on a charge of third-degree possession of child pornography, according to Connecticut State Police. Gaindawattie “Bindu” Fairchild, Fairchild’s wife, died in an April 2024 house fire on Wood Creek Road. The medical examiner determined there was no smoke in her lungs, meaning she was dead before the fire started, state police said. This revelation launched an investigation. Police …
Police & Fire
Police Dog Tracks Down New Haven Trio Involved In Hit-Run Crash In Stolen Vehicle: Cops
A Connecticut police dog is getting some extra treats this week after helping officers track down three people involved in a hit-and-run crash in a stolen vehicle, authorities said. Damien Cepeda and Christian Mon Paibo, both 18 and from New Haven, along with a juvenile, were arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including larceny of a motor vehicle and interfering with police, authorities said. The hit-and-run crash was reported Tuesday, Feb. 4, along Barnes Highway in Bristol. The stolen car was wrecked in the crash, and all three occupants fled on foot. Police tracked their footpri…
Police & Fire
Police ID CT Man Hit, Killed By Unmarked Police Car
Authorities have identified the Fairfield County man who was killed when he was hit by an unmarked police vehicle while riding his bike this week. Manuel Bonilla-Gomez, 68, of Norwalk, was riding his bike near the Connecticut and Fairfield Avenues intersection in Norwalk around 6 p.m. when the crash happened, authorities said. Paramedics rushed Bonilla-Gomez to Norwalk Hospital, where he died of his injuries. Norwalk police said Bonilla-Gomez was riding south on Clinton Avenue and crossed Connecticut Avenue on a red light as the police vehicle passed through the…
Police & Fire
(Updated) Unmarked Police Car Hits, Kills CT Pedestrian While Responding To Call
Update: Police have identified the man killed as Manuel Bonilla-Gomez. Click here for more information. Original: A Fairfield County resident was killed Monday evening, Feb. 3, while riding his bike after an unmarked police car responding to a call crashed into them, authorities said. The Norwalk resident — who was not named — was riding his bike near the Connecticut and Fairfield Avenues intersection in Norwalk around 6 p.m. when the vehicle crashed into them. Paramedics rushed them to Norwalk Hospital, but doctors were unable to save their life. Po…
Police & Fire
Stolen Car Chase Ends In Multiple-Car Crash On I-91 In CT; 2 Troopers' Cruisers Rammed: Cops
A wild high-speed chase that started in Massachusetts ended in mayhem on I-91 in Connecticut when a stolen car smashed into nine vehicles before state troopers and a police K-9 took down the suspect. Rolando Garcia, 43, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, was arrested and faces multiple charges, including reckless endangerment, larceny of a motor vehicle, and resisting arrest, Connecticut State Police said. The chaos began around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, when Massachusetts State Police alerted Connecticut authorities that a stolen green 1999 Toyota Corolla had crossed the state line after flee…
Police & Fire
CT Man Killed After Crashing Into Utility Pole
A 60-year-old Connecticut man died in a single-car crash after his vehicle veered off the road and slammed into a utility pole, authorities said. The Manchester resident, whose name has not been released, crashed around 10:30 a.m. near 138 W. Center St. in Manchester. First responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Manchester police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
Police & Fire
State Slams ‘Flawed’ Investigation Behind Fatal Bridgeport Police Shooting In Ansonia
A state investigation released this week found that a fatal police shooting of an unarmed man last year was "questionable" and stemmed from a "flawed" investigation. However, investigators said there was not enough evidence to prosecute the officers. Jonathan Mark Lewis Bell, 39, was shot and killed in Ansonia on Feb. 4, 2024, after Bridgeport narcotics police received a tip that a suspected drug dealer known as "JB" was carrying a gun in his Mercedes-Benz SUV, Office of Inspector General report said. Without confirming the presence of a weapon, officers tried to pull over…
Police & Fire
CT Woman Fought Off Ansonia Intruder She Found In Her Bedroom In Middle Of Night
A Connecticut woman woke up to a nightmare when she found a masked intruder in her bedroom in the middle of the night last week, authorities said. Troi Barnes, 29, of Ansonia, was arrested Friday, Jan. 31, on multiple felony charges, including home invasion, first-degree burglary, attempted sexual assault, and reckless endangerment, police said. The terrifying ordeal unfolded around 2 a.m. when a woman in a Sport Hill Road home in Redding called 911, saying she had fought off an intruder, according to police. Redding officers and additional units working a nearby traffic detail rushed…
Police & Fire
Four Injured In Head-On Crash In Fairfield County
Four people were injured — some seriously — over the weekend in a Fairfield County crash, authorities said. The crash was reported Sunday, Feb. 2, in Newtown on Toddy Hill Road, the Botsford Fire Department said. Authorities said injuries ranged from minor to severe, but firefighters provided no further details on their conditions. A nurse and paramedics who arrived at the scene were the first to help the drivers and passengers before responders arrived. They remained until paramedics whisked them away. Another woman stopped and helped translate for at least one victim. Newtown poli…
Police & Fire
2 Hospitalized After Car Crashes Into Culvert Off I-91In CT
A car careened off I-91 in Hartford County early Saturday, landing deep in a drainage culvert and injuring multiple people, authorities said. Firefighters and Connecticut State Police were called to the single-car crash just north of Exit 23 in Rocky Hill around 2 a.m. They found the vehicle about 50 feet off the highway, with its occupants already trying to climb out as troopers assisted them up the embankment, authorities said. Both people inside were taken to a local hospital with injuries, though officials did not disclose their conditions. Heavy fog and dangerous driv…
Police & Fire
Waterbury Teen Shot In Broad Daylight Attack; Expected To Survive
Police are investigating the midday shooting of a 17-year-old boy in Connecticut on Friday, Jan. 31. Officers were called to the intersection of Congress Avenue and Washington Avenue in Waterbury around 1:30 p.m. after reports of gunfire. They found the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound, and paramedics rushed him to an area hospital, police said. Doctors determined the injury was not life-threatening. Police believe the shooting was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the community. Investigators are asking for the public's help. They urge anyone with information to call …
Police & Fire
Milford Man, His 'Mules' Scammed $50K Worth Of iPhones Through Insurance Scheme: Police
A Connecticut man accused of running an elaborate $50,000 iPhone insurance scam was arrested this week after a months-long investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies, authorities said. Esmaylin Delacruz, 37, of Milford, was taken into custody Thursday, Jan. 30, and charged with conspiracy to commit larceny, first-degree larceny, and insurance fraud, Connecticut State Police said. Investigators say Delacruz used a network of "mules" to open accounts with multiple wireless carriers and file fraudulent claims to obtain new Apple iPhones. Those devices, police said, were later fu…
Police & Fire
CT Drunk Driver Going 80 MPH In 35 Zone Was Uninsured: Police
A traffic stop earlier this week unfolded into more and more charges for the Connecticut driver after he was found to be drunk while going twice the speed limit, police allege. Christian Silver, 24, of Morris, was pulled over on Bissell Road in Litchfield after a trooper clocked his Chevrolet Silverado at 80 mph in a 35 mph zone around 12:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31, according to Connecticut State Police. As troopers approached the truck, they noticed the license plate belonged to a Ford F-150 and that one of the taillights wasn’t working. Silver, who told police the truck was his but wa…
Police & Fire
Waterbury Man Claimed He ‘Found’ Starving Dog In Naugatuck — Turns Out It Was His: Police
A 37-year-old Connecticut man who pretended to be a hero by saving a "stray" dog was actually its abuser, authorities said. Julio Galindez-Rivera, of Waterbury, was arrested after bringing a Chihuahua to Naugatuck Animal Control, claiming he had found it wandering the streets. The dog was half-starved, malnourished, and neglected to the point that its claws were so overgrown and curled they dug into its paws, police said. Under Naugatuck Animal Control policy, Galindez-Rivera had to fill out a form stating he didn’t know the dog’s owner. That was a lie, police said. The emaciated animal b…
Police & Fire
Everywhere ICE Agents Have Been Spotted In CT; What To Know About Raids, Your Rights
As President Donald Trump pushes ahead with his controversial initiative to detain and deport millions of migrants, people across Connecticut have begun reporting on social media where they’ve spotted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. ICE agents have spread out nationwide, arresting more than 5,500 people in the first week of Trump’s presidency, according to ABC News — nearly tripling the number of arrests in an average week during Joe Biden’s term. NBC News reported the agency has a daily quota of 1,250 to 1,500 arrests. However, tracking these arrests and detain…
Police & Fire
2 Seriously Injured In Rollover Crash; CT Police Close Route 8 For Hours
Connecticut State Police shut down a portion of Route 8 in Fairfield County Thursday morning, Jan. 30, after a car careened off the road, rolled over, and hit a utility police. The crash was reported just after 9:30 a.m. in Shelton when the Honda Civic crossed three lanes of traffic and went off the road near Exit 11 Northbound. Both people inside the car were ejected when the vehicle hit the pole, police said. The 31-year-old driver and 32-year-old passenger, both men from Bridgeport, were rushed to Bridgeport Hospital with serious injuries. An update on their condition wa…
Police & Fire
No Plates, No Brakes, No Luck: Reckless Milford Driver’s Wild Ride Ends In Crash, Cuffs
A Connecticut man who mocked police by doing burnouts in front of them before leading a dangerous, high-speed chase was arrested after turning himself in this week, authorities said. Bryan Ramos, 20, of Waterbury, was behind the wheel of a silver 2020 BMW with no license plates when he stopped in front of officers who were helping a stranded driver near Boston Post Road and Home Acres Avenue in Milford around 2:40 a.m. on Nov. 28, officers said. He spun multiple donuts in the road before tearing off at high speed. Police attempted to pull him over, but he refused to stop, Milford authoritie…
Police & Fire
U.S. Figure Skaters Among Dozens Believed Dead In DC Black Hawk, Plane Crash: Reports
Figure skaters, family members, and their coaches were among the 64 people believed dead in a crash between a military helicopter and American Airlines plane in Washington DC on Wednesday, Jan. 29, according to U.S. Figure Skating and rescue officials. At least 27 bodies had been recovered and officials said they did not believe there were any survivors in the crash near Reagan National Airport, Authorities have switched to a "recovery effort," with more than 300 responders battling frigid temps, wind, and icy waters for hours overnight, Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said o…
Police & Fire
70+ Dead Animals Found Inside Vacant CT Home: Report
More than 70 dead animals were found inside a vacant Connecticut home on Wednesday morning, Jan. 29, according to authorities. Authorities said they found the animals inside a home on River Street in Old Saybrook. A call to Old Saybrook police was not immediately returned. The animals were a menagerie of rabbits, chickens, opossums, cats, a dove, and a skunk, among others, police said in a release. None of the animals were alive. “This morning, we walked in, and it was piled high with trash and dead animal carcasses,” Tanner Orlowski with Clean In Between told WTNH. “When we st…
Police & Fire
Waterbury Felon Who Crashed Into Police Car In Failed Escape Attempt Gets 4 Years: Feds
A 28-year-old Waterbury man was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, following a dramatic August 2023 arrest. Anfernee D. Dancy, who has a lengthy criminal history, was caught after leading Waterbury Police on a brief chase. Officers tried to stop Dancy’s SUV, but he reversed into one of their cruisers and tried to run away, but didn’t get far, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said. Following a struggle, Dancy was taken into custody. Police found a loaded Jimenez Arms 9mm handgun, crack cocaine, a digital scale, and $282 in cash in his car. Dancy,…
Police & Fire
Driver Flashes Gun, Smile In Road Rage Incident On I-95 In CT: Police
A road-rage encounter on I-95 South took a dangerous turn Tuesday morning when a driver allegedly brandished a gun and smirked before speeding off, state police said. The tense moments unfolded around 10:15 a.m. near Exit 19 in Fairfield when a motorist called 911, reporting that another driver had pulled out a firearm during a heated traffic dispute. According to state police, the altercation began when a gray Ford pickup tried to merge into the center lane without enough space, forcing the caller to swerve to avoid a crash. After passing the pickup in slower traffic, the caller noticed th…
Police & Fire
CT Fugitive Wanted for Sex Crimes Against Multiple Children Captured in Georgia: Cops
A Fairfield County man wanted for allegedly having inappropriate contact with multiple juveniles was arrested in Georgia after an intense manhunt led by local and federal authorities, police said. Moises Ruiz, 37, of Norwalk, was tracked to Gwinnett County, Georgia, where he was taken into custody on Jan. 15 by US Marshals, according to the Norwalk Police Department. Detectives from Norwalk’s special victims unit traveled to Georgia on Tuesday, Jan. 28, to extradite Ruiz back to Connecticut. The investigation began in Nov. 2023, when the Connecticut Department of Children and Families file…
Police & Fire
2 West Haven Officers Shot Executing Search Warrant In New Haven; Suspect Killed: Reports
Two West Haven police officers were shot early Wednesday, Jan. 29, while serving warrants in New Haven, reports said. The suspect was killed in a shootout. The officers, whose names and conditions have not been released, were part of a multi-agency task force. They were executing a search warrant at an apartment on Grand Ave. around 5:30 a.m. when gunfire erupted, NBC Connecticut reported. The New Haven police chief will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. to discuss the shooting and provide updates on the officers' conditions. Reports said the unnamed suspect fired multiple shots from insid…
Police & Fire
Man Steals $5,600 In Books Stolen From CT Library: Cops
A Middletown man has been charged in connection with the theft of books valued at approximately $5,600 from the Wethersfield Public Library, police said. Levi Preston, 50, was identified as the suspect after a thorough investigation involving the Wethersfield and West Hartford Police Departments. The theft was first reported by the library director on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, according to the Wethersfield Police Department. An arrest warrant was issued and approved by New Britain Superior Court. Preston was taken into custody on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2025, police said. He has been charged with th…
Police & Fire
Ex-VP Who Stole $1.4M From CT Insurance Firm Sentenced to Prison: Feds
A Pennsylvania man who exploited his role at a Connecticut insurance company to steal more than $1.4 million is heading to federal prison, authorities said. James Keating, 52, of Paoli, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 20 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding Allied World Insurance Company out of more than a million dollars. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden also ordered him to pay back over $1.2 million in restitution. Prosecutors said Keating used his position as a surety bond claims handler at Allied World, which operates out of Farmingt…
Police & Fire
State Investigating Hanging Death Of Man While In Police Custody
State investigators are probing the in-custody death of a 36-year-old man who died while being held at the Stamford Police Department. The Office of Inspector General, in collaboration with Stamford police, confirmed that Jamal Linton was found unresponsive in his cell on Sunday evening, Jan. 26, hours after being arrested on multiple charges, including second-degree assault and strangulation. Linton, who was being held on a $75,000 bond, was discovered at approximately 5:42 p.m., appearing to have hanged himself, authorities said. Officers immediately performed first aid before…
Police & Fire
Police Dog Helps Foil Home Invasion, Capture Suspects After High-Stakes Chase In Milford: Cops
A Connecticut home invasion led to a late-night beach chase, ending with a man and a juvenile in handcuffs thanks to a police dog named Rip, authorities said. Milford police responded to a home on Milford Point Road around 2:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24, after reports of an attempted car theft escalated into a home invasion. As officers arrived, they spotted a black BMW speeding away. Responding officers deployed stop sticks near Milford Point Road and Deerwood Avenue, forcing the car to stop. The driver fled on foot, authorities said. Back at the home, two suspects ran out the back door …
Police & Fire
Intoxicated Derby Driver Punches, Spits On Cop During Route 8 Stop: Police
A 28-year-old New Haven County woman who was driving erratically over the weekend attacked troopers who were trying to help her, Connecticut State Police said. Jessica Reyes, of Derby, was arrested late Saturday, Jan. 25, and charged with operating under the influence, improper parking on a highway, interfering with an officer, and two counts of assault on public safety personnel, authorities said. Troopers received a 911 call around 11:50 p.m. reporting a Jeep had driven into the median on southbound Route 8 near Exit 7 in Bridgeport. When officers arrived, they found an SUV parked in the…
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