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Tiger Woods Arrest: Dashcam Footage Released

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Dashcam footage of Tiger Woods' Memorial Day arrest near his South Florida home was released by Jupiter police Wednesday. The video shows Woods attempting to tie his shoes and a police officer asking him to perform the sobriety test.

Jupiter police also released photos of the Wood's black Mercedes Wednesday afternoon, showing one of the car's tires flat and damaged.

The legendary pro golfer was discovered asleep at the wheel of his black Mercedes near the intersection of Military Trail and Indian Creek Parkway on Monday, according to a police report.

Woods was confused but cooperative when he was taken into custody, on suspicion of DUI, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Woods' speech was "extremely slow and slurred, mumbled [and] confused" and he was "extremely sleepy," according to the report. He initially told the officer he was coming from Los Angeles for a golf trip before changing his story and saying he didn’t know where he was.

The 14-time major champion failed several field sobriety tests, but passed his breath test, twice scoring a .000. In a statement released Monday evening, Woods blamed his condition on an "unexpected reaction" to prescription medication he was taking, but said he was taking responsibility for what happened.

The 41-year-old was given a mandatory court date for July 5.



Photo Credit: Palm Beach County Sheriff's office
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10 Most Popular Baby Names in Connecticut for 2016

Air Force Vet Who Tried to Join ISIS Gets 35 Years in Prison

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A onetime Air Force serviceman turned ISIS supporter has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for supporting ISIS. 

Tairod Pugh, 49, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday following his March conviction of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. 

Pugh tried to travel to Syria in 2015 to join with ISIS fighters but he was stopped in Istanbul and sent back to the U.S. where he was arrested by the FBI.

"The defendant turned his back on his country, and the military he once served, to attempt to join brutally violent terrorist organization committed to the slaughter of innocent people throughout the world," said Bridget M. Rhode, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. 

During his trial, prosecutors pointed out his writings, including one letter to his wife voicing support for ISIS and telling her he was trying to become a martyr.

Pugh had served in the Air Force as a mechanic more than 20 years ago. But officials said he became increasingly radical after the 9/11 attacks, culminating with his attempts to travel overseas in 2015.

Authorities seized Pugh's laptop after his arrest and found Internet searches for "borders controlled by Islamic state," an ISIS propaganda video and ISIS execution videos. On Facebook, he advised followers "to [support] ISIS with your bodies." 

Pugh is one of dozens of suspects arrested for trying to travel overseas. The FBI has said it has investigations ongoing in all 50 states into suspected extremists.

Pugh’s lawyers have promised to appeal the conviction. Judge Nicholas Garaufis is expected to hand down the sentence on the terror-related charges in Brooklyn federal court, charges which carry a maximum of up to 35 years in prison.

CORRECTION (May 31, 2017, 7:15 p.m.) An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the New York judge. He is Judge Nicholas Garaufis, not Judge Nicolas Garrafus.



Photo Credit: Government Exhibit

Clinton: Russia Likely Had US Help to 'Weaponize' Leaks

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Hillary Clinton provided a lengthy deconstruction Wednesday about the factors she believes cost her the 2016 presidential election, arguing that some in the U.S. must have helped Russians "weaponize" information to use against her in last year's campaign.

The former Democratic nominee stopped short of saying President Donald Trump or one of his associates colluded with Moscow, but said there are plenty of unanswered questions that suggests coordination was possible, NBC News reported.

"The Russians, in my opinion, and based on the intel and counter intel people I've talked to, could not have known how best to weaponize that information unless they had been guided," Clinton said during an appearance at the Recode conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. "Guided by Americans."



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

Viewers' Severe Weather Photos for May 31

American Flight Academy Closes Hartford Office

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A flight academy connected to two fatal plane crashes is closing its second office in Connecticut.

American Flight Academy has terminated its tenancy at Brainard Airport in Hartford, according to the Connecticut Airport Authority.

The move is effective Thursday.

The flight school's owner, Arian Prevalla, survived a plane crash in East Hartford in October. Prevalla and a flight student, Feras Freitekh. Prevalla told investigators he and Freitekh fought and struggled before the crash. officials called the crash intentional early on in the investigation.

Another American Flight Academy plane crashed at Tweed-New Haven Airport in February. The crash killed one of the two people on board.

In April, federal and state agents seized documents from the American Flight Academy office at Brainard Airport in Hartford.

The flight school has already closed its East Haven office.


NBC Connecticut reached out to Prevalla's attorney, but has not heard back.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Danielson Teen’s Death Inspires Life-Saving Initiative

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A Danielson teen, who passed away after suffering a medical emergency at a softball game earlier this month, has become the driving force behind a new life-saving initiative.

"Had maybe something been done faster at the field, there’s a chance that she could still be here," Jessica Norris said about her daughter, Morgan Ross.

Ross, 13, was warming up a new catcher at Roseland Park in Woodstock on May 2 when she told friends she was dizzy and ended up on the ground, according to Norris.

Norris was coaching the Killingly Little League team, called the “Cool Cats”, at the time.

The story inspired South Killingly Fire Chief Seth DeAngelis, who manages one of the Little League teams.

"This unfortunate tragedy, it brought to light that we weren’t prepared. We weren’t prepared for this type of event," DeAngelis said.

It’s why he gathered donations to purchase automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to be put on Killingly’s athletic fields.

The best chance for an AED to restore a heart to a normal rhythm is within the first five to eight minutes of a medical emergency, according to DeAngelis. By having them on the fields, people can take immediate action instead of waiting for the fire department or an ambulance to arrive.

"Certainly as a way to honor her, and honor her life and her family," he said. "We thought this was a perfect opportunity to do something to improve the safety of our players and our families at the fields."

Each AED costs more than $2,000. The biggest donation came from the David Lawton Memorial Fund. Lawton passed away earlier this year and was the South Killingly Fire Company president who had ties to the Killingly Little League, according to DeAngelis. Danielson Fire Department and South Killingly Fire Company also chipped in, as did K-B Ambulance, who will manage the AEDs.

"Had (an AED) been used probably in the first five minutes, because again, it took forever for the ambulance to get there, there’s a very good chance that my daughter could be standing here and playing tomorrow in our playoff game with me," Norris said.

Ross was destined to help others.

"’Be kind always because you don’t know the battle they’re facing.’ A 13-year-old wrote that and she cared so much about so many other people,” Norris said, adding these new AEDs are one way her legacy will live on.

"She could potentially save another child’s life so no parent has to experience the pain that we’re feeling. Because it is the worst pain in the entire world that you’ll ever experience – losing your child," Norris said.

Two AEDs have been ordered and should arrive next week. They’ll go to the Little League Field in Danielson and to the field behind Owen Bell Park. Other people are looking to donate for a third AED that one will go to the field in Rogers, said DeAngelis.

The AEDs will be owned by the League and likely be used for football season, too.



Photo Credit: Jessica Norris

Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown Shut Down for Police Activity


New Britain Man, Friends Rape Teen Over 6 Days: Documents

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EDITOR'S NOTE: This article contains graphic content.

Police have released court documents for the case of a New Britain man accused of kidnapping a teen and raping her with his friends in a basement for six days.

Miguel Pagan, 20, faces charges that include trafficking a person, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, unlawful restraint, kidnapping with a firearm and two counts of risk of injury to a minor by sexual contact. 

New Britain Police said they received a report of a missing juvenile on April 7. The 14-year-old's foster mother contacted the girl's biological mother to say she had been missing. When the girl's biological mother checked Facebook messenger, it appeared the teen hadn't been active in more than 16 hours, which was odd behavior, according to the court documents. 

The mother soon learned that her daughter may be with "Wookie", who was later identified as Pagan. She was able to obtain Pagan's address and phone number through a mutual friend, police said. 

A friend of the girl's family assisted police in arranging for the victim to be dropped off around the area of the McDonald's parking lot in the New Britain Plaza and brought her inside Price Rite, according to the documents.

Police said the family friend called Pagan and heard him accuse the 20-year-old of holding the teen against her will and raping her. The friend told police that the teen had told him she had been raped several times over the course of six days in Pagan's basement recording studio at 184 Clark Street.

The responding officer said two years ago police served a narcotics search warrant at 184 Clark Street and recalled the basement was under construction because a music recording studio was being built. 

With the information provided, police saw Pagan posted an announcement on Facebook about a party he was throwing on April 13, where officers ultimately arrested him. During an interview at the station, the suspect admitted to having sex with the minor after picking her up on the west side of the city on April 7. He also admitted to having photos of her on his phone.

Search warrants were applied for Pagan's Facebook account and cellphone. Police found 13 photos of the victim dating back to April 3, indicating that he had known the girl before keeping her at his home for almost a week, according to court documents. 

Police found that Pagan had exchanged text messages with a friend about the victim. They also found pictures of Pagan holding a long barreled black firearm. Pagan posted a video on Snapchat with the firearm with the caption, "talking (expletive) on Facebook this is what we give 'em."

The victim told police Pagan threatened to shoot her if she left or told anyone what happened.

Police found messages between Pagan and a person believed to be his mother. The messages include the person saying they heard Pagan was putting something in girls drinks and having sex with them. The person also urged Pagan to, "use CONDOMS NO EVIDENCE," the investigation found. 

During an interview with police, the victim named eight men who raped her. She said Pagan had raped her several times over the course of six days and had bit her. The victim also said Pagan raped her with a knife and made cuts in her on her stomach and neck that had caused her pain two or three times. She had physical marks on her body that corroborated her story. She told police on the fifth day at the house on Clark Street, all eight men took turns having sex with her at one time, according to the court documents. 

She said she made several attempts to escape but the window in the basement was too high. She said when she tried to leave, Pagan and his friends would hold her neck and arms back, the documents detail.

The victim told police that Pagan had given her a "white powder" to put on her lips and teeth. She said after she washed it down with Hennessy, she fell asleep. This happened a few times over the six days. Police later identified this white powder as MDMA or "Molly".

Pagan is being held on a $1 million bond. Police are looking for seven others men they say were involved in the sex assault. Anyone who may have information on the case is asked to call New Britain Police.



Photo Credit: New Britain Police Department

Passengers Stop Man Trying to Storm Airliner Cockpit

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Passengers had to tackle a man who tried to storm the cockpit of a Malaysia Airlines jet shortly after takeoff Wednesday night in Australia, authorities and witnesses told NBC News.

Witnesses said the man was screaming, running up and down the aisle with what appeared to be an electronic device. Passengers stopped him and restrained him with seatbelts.

An official for the Victoria state police said the man never entered the cockpit of Flight MH128, which landed safely back at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, Australia's second-busiest airport.

The airport was closed for hours so tactical officers could sweep the plane and the airport, and the police official added there "appears to be no imminent threat to passengers, staff or public."



Photo Credit: Andrew Leoncelli

'No Agreements' With Russia to Return Compounds: State Dept.

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There are no deals between the U.S. and Russia, the State Department said Wednesday night in response to reports that President Donald Trump was considering returning two diplomatic facilities in the U.S. to Russia, NBC News reported.

In December, then-President Barack Obama closed the compounds — one in Maryland and one in New York — in retaliation for Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 election. 

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the Trump administration was considering handing back the facilities.

"The U.S. and Russia have reached no agreements," said R.C. Hammond, senior communications adviser for the State Department. "The next meeting will be in June in St. Petersburg."



Photo Credit: NBC 4 NY

Man Causes Chemical Spill After Company Terminates Him: PD

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A Hartford man is accused of causing an intentional chemical spill at the Glastonbury company he’d been terminated from months earlier and has been arrested.

Manuel Sastre, 54, of Hartford, is accused of spilling sodium hydroxide at CT Galvanizing/Highway Safety Corporation at 239 Commerce Street in Glastonbury in 2015, according to Glastonbury police.

Sastre had been let go from the company a few months earlier and police said they determined that he had intentionally caused the spill.

The Hartford man was charged with third-degree burglary, criminal mischief in the first degree and discharge to the waters of the state without a permit.

Bond was set at $50,000 and Sastre has been ordered to stay away from the business.




Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Build It Green: TreeHouse to Open World's 1st Net-Zero Energy Store

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Home improvement has long been synonymous with Home Depot and Lowe's. But a Texas-based green conscience start-up is aiming to make sustainable home improvement appeal to more than just environmentalists.

TreeHouse will open the world's first energy-positive home improvement store in Dallas Friday. Through the use of 539 rooftop solar panels and two Tesla Powerwalls the store will actually generate energy well in excess of its needs.

“This store runs on 100 percent sunshine,” Treehouse's Ben Kusin said, adding that the excess renewable energy that the store generates will be put back onto the power grid and made available for others to use.

The company is the first retailer authorized to sell Tesla's home energy storage battery.

"A home battery could make energy bills an archaic relic of a past system," said TreeHouse co-founder and CEO Jason Ballard, speaking at Tesla’s energy storage event in California. "You can now own your own production and storage of the energy you need. This takes us one step closer to completely powering homes without fossil fuels."

The store will be the retailer’s second location. It's flagship store opened in Austin in 2011. An additional store, planned for the Plano area, is due to open this fall. Dubbed the Whole Foods of home improvement, TreeHouse's expansion highlights a demand for eco-friendly products and a desire to reduce carbon footprint. 

Yet, President Donald Trump is expected to announce Thursday whether the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change. White House sources tell NBC News that the president is leaning toward an exit. 

The 2015 agreement, which is not a binding treaty, was spurred by the overwhelming global scientific consensus that rising global temperatures over the last several decades are caused by man-made activity. The accord's goal is aimed at preventing the planet from warming by more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which scientists warn could have damaging consequences.

The agreement calls on countries to make voluntary national pledges to reduce emissions. Despite Trump's decision, businesses like TreeHouse will forge ahead with eco-friendly alternatives.

"The home consumes the highest amount of our natural resources, such as water and energy, produces the largest amount of landfill waste, and is where we will be exposed to the greatest number of toxins in our lifetime," the company said. "By working to solve these problems, TreeHouse finds new routes to dramatically change the quality of our lives. We can build better shelters for ourselves, our communities, and our planet."

TreeHouse offers a carefully curated selection of products and services that promote healthful and sustainable living spaces, with an emphasis on performance and design. Every product is scored based on health, performance, corporate responsibility and sustainability.

“TreeHouse is reinventing home improvement with the twin goals of ecological and human health,” the company explains on its web site. “Our core principles are applied to everything in the store. From thoughtful and innovative products to comprehensive, high-quality services -- every element is designed to build a better home.”



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News
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Motorcyclist Injured in Milford Crash

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A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash in Milford Wednesday.

Police said a vehicle was turning south from Sigwin Drive onto North Street around 4:30 p.m. and the motorcycle was going north on North Street, approaching Sigwin Drive, when the vehicles collided.

The motorcyclist was thrown to the ground and was transported to Bridgeport Hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the other vehicle was transported to Milford Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Police are investigating and ask anyone with information to call the Milford Police Traffic Division at (203) 878-5244 or Officer Steve Carney (203) 783-4751 or email scarney@ci.milford.ct.us.




Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Police Investigating Break-In at Mi Terruno in Stamford

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Two people broke into Mi Terruno restaurant in Stamford last week and police have released surveillance in the hopes that someone will recognize them.

They two men broke the back door to get into 1047 East Main St. just before 2 a.m. on May 23, according to police.

They were both wearing light hoodies and one has a distinctive stripe running vertically down the hood and a distinctive circle on the front.

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Anyone with information is asked to send Stamford police a message on Facebook or make an anonymous tip by telephone at 203-977-4407.




Photo Credit: Stamford Police
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Trump Considering a Rollback of Obama's Cuba Policy

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President Donald Trump is considering rolling back Obama-era policies on opening diplomatic relations with Cuba, several sources told NBC News. The sources cautioned, however, that no final decisions have been made. 

The rollback is unlikely to completely sever diplomatic ties or shutter the U.S. Embassy in Havana, but may include reimposing limits on banking, people-to-people exchanges, exporting Cuban cigars and rum, and other measures. 

A number of congressional leaders, including Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubio, have been vocal critics of the Obama administration's deals with Raul Castro. Rubio is said to be a key player in pushing Trump toward undoing the current policies, NBC News reported. 

Critics of the rollback in diplomatic relations include the Chamber of Commerce, states that export agricultural products to Cuba and intelligence agencies that have benefited from improved intelligence sharing. 

President Trump would announce the plan in Miami in an executive order, citing human rights abuses on the communist-run island, according to NBC News. 

In January, the Obama administration ended the "wet foot, dry foot" policy, which allowed any Cuban who made it to U.S. soil to stay and become a legal resident.



Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Day of Fun Planned Along Long Wharf

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If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, the city of New Haven has you covered with not one, not two, but three different activities lined up on Long Wharf this Saturday.

“You’re gonna have some of the best food in America,” said New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.

Mayor Harp let her taste buds do the talking Thursday, as she unveiled plans for the third annual food truck festival. She said the 22-small businesses lined up to be part of Saturday’s event represent top-notch take-out.

People who go up 91 and 95 they make a point to stop here to get this food,” said Harp adding that the selection would be the best meals prepared on wheels.

The festival opens up at noon along Long Wharf Drive, with something for everyone on the menu.

“We have everything from Mexican, to seafood, to Turkish food, so we’ve got that diversity,” said Ginny Kozlowski, the CEO of the New Haven Economic Development Corporation.

A new event this year, the Wheelie Competition, starts at two p.m. in the parking lot next door.

“Just throwing down the gauntlet and seeing who can do the longest wheelie,” said Aidan Charles a board member for the Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program.

By sponsoring the event, the group hopes it gets more kids engaged in their youth cycling league.

“The city of New Haven has packs of young cyclists riding around doing wheelies in the streets and we know there’s a lot of talented riders out there,” Charles said.

The top three winners will share a $500 prize. Anyone can participate in the free challenge. All they need to bring is a bike.

Another competition will complete the day of family fun: the second annual Dragon Boat Regatta.

“We’re doing the Dragon Boat Regatta because it’s fun, because it’s good exercise, and because we think it builds community,” said John Pescatore, President of Canal Dock Boathouse, Inc.

It’s also raising money for free programming for local school children at the boathouse that’s set to open next year.

“Having Long Wharf Pier as kind of a runway right alongside the racecourse, really it adds to the spectating, and because the boathouse is being built right here we’re really creating almost like an arena effect,” Pescatore said.

The drag boats are 40-foot canoes that hold 22 people, including a drummer. Pescatore said the race is steeped in Chinese tradition.

Unlike the inaugural dragon boat races that were held in the morning, this year the event won’t start until four o’clock in the afternoon. Organizers say the timing of this event is all controlled by the tides.

Last year, 10 teams completed, and this year they expect 11-13 teams to take part. Anyone who would like to race but doesn’t have a team will be paired with teams still looking for volunteers on race day.




Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Police Investigating Attempted Burglary at Suffield Dunkin’ Donuts

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Police are trying to identify a man suspected of trying to burglarize a Dunkin’ Donuts in Suffield early Wednesday morning. 

An employee of Dunkin Donuts at 144 Mountain Road called 911 at 2:07 a.m. to report that a man had gained entry to the back of the business. 

The man did not take anything after an employee interrupted him, police said. 

The would-be burglar was gone when officers just over two minutes later, police said. They are looking for a thin, 5-feet-5 man who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. 

A beige or tan sedan was seen in the area around the time of this crime and might be involved, according to Suffield police. 

There have been several burglaries at Dunkin’ Donuts shops in the region and police are working with other regional police departments as part of their ongoing investigation.





Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Police Seek Suspects in 3-State Credit Card Fraud Spree

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Photo Credit: Massachusetts State Police

FBI Probes Possible Trump Camp, Russian Meeting at DC Hotel

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The FBI and Congress are examining a campaign event last spring during which Donald Trump, Jeff Sessions and Jared Kushner were in a small gathering with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak and other diplomats at Washington's Mayflower Hotel, multiple U.S. officials told NBC News.

Five current and former U.S. officials told NBC News they are aware of classified intelligence suggesting there was some sort of private encounter between Trump and his aides and the Russian envoy, despite a heated denial from Sessions, according to NBC News.

Kushner also denied through a spokesman that he met privately with Kislyak that day.

The officials acknowledged to NBC News that the evidence does not amount to proof, and they have declined to provide details about it.

"The Department of Justice appointed special counsel to assume responsibility for this matter," Department of Justice spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said in a statement. "We will allow him to do his job. It is unfortunate that anonymous sources whose credibility will never face public scrutiny are continuously trying to hinder that process by peddling false stories to the mainstream media. The facts haven't changed; the then-Senator did not have any private or side conversations with any Russian officials at the Mayflower Hotel."



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File
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