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2 Arrested After Incident Behind Library, Senior Center in Hamden

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Police arrested two people after investigating reports of men with handguns behind the Miller Memorial Library/Hamden Senior Center around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. 

Police said they found 48-year-old Willard Ar-Rahmaan Jr., of Hamden, unresponsive on the ground when they arrived, so they called Hamden Fire Rescue to respond. 

The investigation revealed that Ar-Rahmaan was wearing a tactical style vest and carrying what appeared to be a firearm while walking behind the senior center and witnesses’ told police he was in an “agitated state,” police said. 

As Ar-Rahmaan was lying down near an employee’s motor vehicle, a friend approached him and removed the facsimile firearm, tactical vest and handcuffs from him, police said. 

Officers arrested Ar-Rahmaan after he received medical treatment. 

Kimberly Davis-Trapani, 26, of Woodbridge, who accompanied Ar-Rahmaan to the area, was also arrested.

Ar-Rahmaan was charged with illegal use of a facsimile firearm, weapons in a motor vehicle and second-degree breach of peace.

Davis-Trapani was charged with interfering with a police officer. Both are scheduled to appear in court in Meriden on Aug. 2.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Police Investigating After Dog Bites Children in Bridgeport

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Police are investigating after a dog bit two children in Bridgeport Wednesday night. 

Officers responded to Pearl Harbor Street at 5:48 p.m. after receiving a report that a dog bit a child who had been transported to the hospital. 

Two children, a 7-year-old boy and 10-year-old girl, were playing in the house when the dog bit the 7-year-old in the buttocks, police said. 

The 7-year-old was able to get free from the dog and went to jump out of the open first-floor window to get away from the dog, according to police. 

When he ran toward the window, the 10-year-old went to restrain the dog by the harness to protect her friend and the dog bit her, police said. 

The girl sustained lacerations and puncture wounds to her left ear as well as bites to her left shoulder, upper lip, left hand, stomach and right thigh. 

She was transferred to Bridgeport Hospital and received plastic surgery. Her mother told police she will need follow-up surgeries and they are trying to control the pain for her.

Police said they have not been able to find the boy and his mother said she would take him to the hospital, but there has been no record that happened.

Bridgeport Animal Control has the dog in custody and they are trying to reach the owner, who is in New York. Police said he is a family member of one of the victims.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

People Evacuated in Vernon After Reported Gas Leak

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People in nearby buildings were evacuated on Thursday after crews responded to a Vernon building. 

Authorities were called by Eversource for a reported gas leak in the 70 block of Elm Street around 3 p.m.

When officers arrived, they noticed a strong odor. Police then took precautionary measures and evacuated people from all nearby buildings. 

About five to nine buildings were affected, including a Veteran home. 

Residents have been shuttled to a nearby senior center and will be there until it is deemed safe to return.

There does not appear to be any immediate danger at this time. 

Eversource was on the scene working in the area when the gas leak occurred and are now working on shutting the gas off. 

The area is expected to be closed for the next couple of hours. 




Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Suspect in Mansfield Bank Robbery Told Police He Uses 100 Bags of Heroin a Day

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A 42-year-old Willimantic man charged in connection with a bank robbery in Mansfield in May has been arrested and told police he had a drug habit and was using about 100 bags of heroin a day, according to the arrest warrant application.

State troopers responded to the TD Bank North at 95 Storrs Road, inside Eastbrook Mall, at 4:37 p.m. May 24 after a man wearing a baseball hat, glasses and a sweatshirt demanded money from the teller, police said.

He passed a note to the teller that said, "give me the money in the drawer. This is not a joke!!! Do it now," according to police. 

After getting $6,370, the man left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and got into a light-colored, smaller-sized pickup and fled in an unknown direction, police said.

Police said they located the suspect, 42-year-old Mervin Bundy, of Willimantic, after a UConn police officer saw a vehicle matching the description from the robbery and alerted authorities on what direction it was going.

Police said they also obtained a cigarette Bundy stomped out at the scene, which was hit for Bundy.

Police said they found the vehicle parked at the Hawthorn Suites hotel in Manchester and apprehended Bundy when he tried to flee.

Bundy had cash and narcotics and was under the influence, according to police, and was taken to the hospital to be evaluated for a medical issue.

Bundy was initially charged with operating a vehicle when the registration or license is suspended or revoked, reckless driving, operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of a narcotic.

On June 5, he told police he did rob the bank, then went to Hartford to buy heroin and cocaine, according to the arrest warrant application.

He has since been charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree larceny. 





Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

1 Person Hospitalized After Norwalk Shooting

O.J. Simpson Has Been Granted Parole. What Happens Next?

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A Nevada parole board voted unanimously Thursday to grant O.J. Simpson’s request for an early release from prison, but this doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a free man.

"Parole is but one step out of the prison gate," Loyola Law School professor and longtime Simpson case commentator Laurie Levenson told NBC News.

Simpson is widely known for his 1995 acquittal in the slayings of his ex-wife and her friend in Los Angeles. In 2008, the now 70-year-old was sentenced to a minimum nine years in prison for committing an armed heist at a Las Vegas hotel in a botched attempt to recover sports memorabilia from his days as a football star.

After his release from prison, which could be as soon as Oct. 1, Simpson will have to report monthly to a parole officer. He'll also be barred from drinking alcohol and subject to random drug searches and screenings until the terms of his parole end Sept. 29, 2022. 

If Simpson violates the terms of his release, he could be arrested and sent back to prison.



Photo Credit: Jason Bean/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP, Pool

Norwich Public Utilities Issues Power Alert

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Norwich Public Utilities has issued a power alert from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. today in response to extremely warm and humid weather.

They said demand for electricity increased significantly and they hope to decrease the impact on the electrical infrastructure during high temperatures.

A portion of NPU’s annual costs for electricity are based on ‘peak demand’ days, officials from the utility company said, and customers can help keep their overall electric costs lower throughout the year by being energy efficient.

John Bilda, the general manager for Norwich Public Utilities, said in a statement that it’s important that customers, both residential and commercial, use power wisely today and tomorrow to “reduce the strain on our equipment in the field.”

“Making a few small adjustments can make a big difference,” he added.

NPU is asking customers to take steps today and tomorrow to conserve electricity:

Only run a window unit when someone is home. NPU recommends setting a central AC system to 73 degrees.

Consider waiting until after 6 p.m. to use major appliances, like a dishwasher or clothes dryer.

Minimize the use of appliances or devices that generate heat before 6 p.m. – computers, curling irons and hair dryers, stereos, and televisions can all add to the heat in your home.

Avoid using the oven to cook and consider using a stove, microwave or grilling outside.

Install energy-efficient lighting that runs much cooler than traditional lighting. Only about 10 to 15 percent of the electricity that incandescent lights use results in light – the rest is turned to heat.

Keep the sun out by installing window coverings to minimize the heat coming into a home.

Get the full forecast from NBC Connecticut as this heat wave continues. 



Photo Credit: AP

14-Year-Old Shot in New Haven Has Died: Officials

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A 14-year-old boy who was shot in New Haven on Sunday night has died, according to officials.

Police responded to Bassett Street, near Newhall Street, around 9:30 p.m. for reports of a shooting and found the victim, Tyriek Keyes, of New Haven. They said that it appears he was targeted.

“Tragically, gun violence has claimed the life of another city resident; this time the sadness we all feel is compounded by the youthful age of the victim,” Mayor Toni Harp said. “On behalf of all city residents I mourn with his family, I praise the first responders and hospital staff who tried to save his life, I condemn the casual use and glut of these guns, and I appreciate the ongoing efforts of the police department in its continuing investigation.”

Tyriek, the youngest of five children, was supposed to start high school in the fall.

“This young student had just completed 8th grade at Fair Haven – the entire school community is heartbroken by these tragic circumstances,” New Haven Public Schools interim Superintendent Dr. Reginald Mayo said. “School and district staff have been in constant contact with the family since the shooting and the district’s Youth and Family Services Division, trauma team, and community partners remain available to support students and staff affected by the tragedy.”

The victim was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was in critical condition. He died early Thursday morning, according to police.

Authorities originally said the shooter was a passenger in a white Toyota sedan, or possibly a Nissan Altima, and he was wearing a white shirt, "Jordan" sneakers and a black face mask. Later, police said the shooting was not a drive-by assault and witness reports said the shooter was a passenger in a white crossover vehicle.

Detectives from the department’s major crimes division and bureau of investigation are investigating.

Tyriek’s mother said she wants the shooter to come forward.

“I want them to really pay for what they did to my child, and if you had a heart you would turn yourself in,” she said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call New Haven police.


Third Casino Signed Into Law by Malloy

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Connecticut’s third casino has been authorized by General Assembly, and after signing the bill into law Thursday, progress could start immediately.

“We’ve been waiting for this day for a fairly long time,” said Kevin Brown, Chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Nation, the tribe that runs Mohegan Sun.

The bill signing ceremony comes after more than two years of discussion and debate over the prospect of a third casino. The catalyst for the conversation was the announcement that MGM would open a casino just over the state’s border with Massachusetts in Springfield.

Gov. Dannel Malloy had stayed out of the public debate until late in the 2017 Legislative Session, when he threw his support behind the tribes, and not a proposal backed by MGM to provide an open commercial bid process.

“Let there be no doubt that Massachusetts made a decision to do whatever they could to get as much gaming out of Connecticut and into their state and this was an appropriate response to what Massachusetts has done and quite frankly what other states have done,” Malloy said.

Tribal leaders, construction groups, and labor unions have all sold the project as a jobs-saving endeavor, for fear of Massachusetts casinos taking away hundreds of millions in revenue from the Connecticut facilities.

MGM has already lost one court battle over the state’s process but has vowed to challenge Connecticut’s newest casino authorization in court.

Malloy said what won him over was the relationship the state enjoys with the two tribal nations.

“This is worth fighting for,” Malloy said. “This is worth protecting and quite frankly its worth keeping Connecticut dollars spent in Connecticut as opposed to going up 91 and being spent someplace else.”

Malloy also said the state still must approve the amendment to its agreement with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the BIA must then sign off on it.

The tribes were confident the bureaucratic process will be a successful one.

Tribal leaders said they plan to put an entirely new building and parking layout on the site of the former Showcase Cinema in East Windsor, and that progress on that front could start very soon with a demolition of the old structure.

Kevin Brown said, “Yes, BIA is going to say OK, yes we’re going to demolish the movie theater and yes we have a schedule for all of that.”

Protecting Vehicles in the Heat

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Mechanics in Connecticut are giving tips on how to protect your vehicles from the heat. 

Kevin Richard, a mechanic at South Street Auto in West Hartford, tested one resident's car battery and found it had less than half of its initial power left.

"We’ll put a new battery in this and she should be fine,” Richard said. "No other problem."

Richard said car batteries should last drivers four to five years, but considering Connecticut gets extreme weather in both the summer and winter, which could seriously cut into its life span, it’s a good idea to check it regularly.

Other common summertime problems? Air conditioners.

"If your air conditioner isn’t efficient enough and it’s not blowing cold air, it’s going to have to work twice as hard to do its job and keep up," Richard said. "And that’s going to take a toll on the system, [which could] make it weaker and things will fail."

One often heard myth, Richard notes, is that drivers should change their tire pressure depending on the season. Instead, he suggests sticking with the recommended tire pressure from the user manual, which is different from the maximum load it can carry, as indicated on the tire. Keep that consistent year around.

Also, checking your fluid levels and coolant system before a trip will likely pay off down the road.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Silver Alert Issued for 72-Year-Old Man in Vernon

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A Silver Alert has been issued for a man missing in Vernon, police said. 

Dale Miller, 72, was last seen on Thursday but the details surrounding his disappearance are unclear. 

Miller is described as 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 240 pounds. He has grey hair and green eyes. 

It is not known what kind of clothes he was wearing. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Vernon Police at (860) 872-9126.



Photo Credit: Vernon Police

Ex-Trump Aide to Be Named WH Communications Dir.: Sources

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Anthony Scaramucci, a former Trump transition team official, is expected to be named as the new White House communications director, four sources in and close to the White House told NBC News Thursday.

Scaramucci did not respond to a request for comment, but the decision, first reported by Axios, is expected to be announced Friday. Sean Spicer is expected to stay on the communications team.

Scaramucci met with President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka in the Oval Office Thursday so the president could offer him the job, a source said.

Scaramucci was a supporter of Trump's during the campaign, dealing with fundraising and appearing on cable TV as a frequent defender of the president.



Photo Credit: Evan Vucci/AP, File

Texas Coffee Recalled for Viagra-Like Ingredient

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Coffee from a North Texas company was recently recalled for containing an ingredient similar to the drug in Viagra, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

Bestherbs Coffee LLC, in Grand Prairie, voluntarily recalled all of its "New of Kopi Jantan Tradisional Herbs Coffee" after an FDA lab analysis detected desmethyl carbodenafil, which is structurally similar to sildenafil, according to the FDA notice.

Sildenafil is the active ingredient in the FDA-approved prescription drug Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction.

Desmethyl carbodenafil may react with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, lowering blood pressure to dangerous levels, the FDA said. The drug poses a risk to men with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease.

The instant coffee packs also include milk, but the potential allergen is not included on the labels.

The coffee was sold nationwide online, with each box containing 25, 13-gram packs of coffee, and was officially recalled on July 13.

People who purchased the recalled coffee can return it to the Bestherbs office for a full refund. The address is listed below:

Bestherbs Coffee LLC
4250 Claremont Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75052



Photo Credit: FDA

Highway Back Open After Crash Involving Four Tractor Trailers

State Ethics Panel Rules Against UConn Football Head Coach

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A state ethics panel ruled it was not proper for UConn football coach Randy Edsall to hire his son as an assistant, but they gave Corey Edsall a partial reprieve.

The Office of State Ethics investigated the hire of head coach Randy Edsall's son Corey as his tight ends coach. A draft opinion concluded it was against state law for Corey Edsall to be his father's assistant and for Randy Edsall to negotiate his son's salary when the UConn head coach had already signed a contract and was a state employee.

UConn explains Randy Edsall signed his contract Dec. 28, 2016. He then negotiated his son's contract via email January 1 but did not begin work as UConn's head coach until January 3. UConn believes he was not a state employee when the negotiations took place.

Nicole Fournier Gelston, UConn’s associate general counsel, told the ethics panel, "The record is clear, that Mr. Edsall did not have a single communication about his son's employment, salary, compensation after he became a state employee on January 3."

In addition, UConn has arranged to have someone else supervise Corey Edsall. Yet the ethics board voted 8-1 in favor of the draft opinion. The board said Corey Edsall must leave the football program, but in a small concession, said he can finish out this season's contract.

UConn has 45 days to appeal the Office of State Ethics opinion.

NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters reached out to Randy Edsall, who had no comment. 


Trump and Putin May Have Met More Times, Russian FM Says

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President Donald Trump may have held more meetings with Vladimir Putin at the G-20 summit earlier this month, Russia's foreign minister said Friday, NBC News reported.

But Sergei Lavrov downplayed the meetings' significance, likening the Russian president's encounters with his U.S. counterpart to children mingling at kindergarten.

“When you are bought by your parents to a kindergarten do you mix with the people who are waiting in the same room to start going to a classroom?” he asked.

Lavrov also said the U.S. presence in Syria was illegitimate and accused C.I.A director Mike Pompeo of having “double standards” regarding the establishment of military bases in the country.



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Michael Sohn

Man Shot and Assaulted in West Haven

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Police are investigating after a man was assaulted and shot in West Haven on Thursday night. 

Police responded to North Union Avenue around 10 p.m. after receiving reports of several gunshots and people screaming. 

Witnesses told officers three males went into a yard on North Union Avenue, confronted another male, assaulted him and then shot him, police said. 

All three males had firearms and were last seen running from the scene, according to police, and the male victim was later found at an area hospital. 

He had a gunshot wound and police said it is not life-threatening. 

Police detectives are investigating and ask anyone with information to call police at 203-937-3900.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Teens Taunt, Mock Drowning Victim in Florida Pond

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A video that purports to show the drowning death of 31-year-old man at a Florida retention pond while a group of teenagers mock and curse at him is making the rounds on social media.

Cocoa police called the disturbing footage of Jamel Dunn's death “beyond heartless.” A group of five teenagers can be heard laughing and taunting the victim as Dunn cries out in distress.

Police say Dunn drowned in the retention pond in Cocoa on July 9. His body was found three days later, on July 12. It is believed the incident happened after Dunn got into an argument with his fiancée.

A spokeswoman for Cocoa Police told WESH that the teenagers had phones, but didn’t even call the police for help. The State Attorney's Office said they are “deeply saddened and shocked” at the tragedy and the actions of the witnesses.

“While the incident depicted on the recording does not give rise to sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution under Florida statutes, we can find no moral justification for either the behavior of persons heard on the recording or the deliberate decision not to render aid to Mr. Dunn,” the office said in a statement.



Photo Credit: Facebook

New London Warning Residents After Several 'K2' Overdoses

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Police and fire personnel kept busy Thursday responding to at least 10 possible synthetic marijuana overdose calls throughout the day, according to New London fire officials.

A majority of the cases happened in the area of Bank Street, Montauk Avenue and Hobron Street, according to New London Fire Battalion Chief Edward Sargent.

The first call came in around 8 a.m. on Thursday. Not all persons were transported to the hospital, but at least four people admitted to using K2, Sargent said.

Many of the patients were homeless, Sargent added.

Sargent said he’s not sure why a spike in overdoses happens. He’s not sure if there’s a batch of K2 that’s more potent than others because it’s difficult to track down the product.

The synthetic marijuana is made of herbs or leafy materials, "sprayed with lab-synthesized liquid chemicals to mimic the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)," according to police in a news release.

It can cause rapid heart rate, vomiting, agitation, profuse sweating, confusion, hallucinations and paranoia. It can also reduce blood supply to the heart, cause kidney damage and seizures or raise blood pressure, police said in the news release.

Acting New London Police Chief Peter Reichard said there tend to be K2 spikes in the warmer months.

Of the patients seen in the last 24 hours, some were unconscious, others passed out but were conscious by the time responders arrived, and some had seizures, said Ron Kersey, EMS and Emergency Management Coordinator for L+M Hospital.

One thing paramedics worry about when dealing with patients who are possibly overdosing from K2 is that they can become unruly and/or violent, Kersey said, adding no staff nor EMS responders were injured Thursday.

Additionally, there were several possible K2 overdose cases Wednesday, Kersey added.

"I think we’re dealing with the unknown. We don’t know how it’s produced, what it’s produced with, how the patient’s going to react to it. In the worst cases, we do see violent behavior we do have to deal with and I think that’s what everyone’s prepared for, Kersey said.

Firefighters also responded to one call for a possible heroin overdose Thursday, Sargent said. That’s in addition to three opioid overdoses Monday that were also suspected heroin cases, he said.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

'Missing' Plane Located at Robertson Field

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Police from several departments searched for a possible down airplane near Waterbury-Oxford Airport Friday morning after dispatchers lost contact with it, but the plane has been located at Robertson Field in Plainville and no injuries are reported.

State police said earlier that they believed the four-seater plane might have landed elsewhere.

The small plane was located at 8:32 a.m., according to state police.




Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
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