Quantcast
Channel: NBC Connecticut
Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live

Lobster Shortage Sends Prices Rising 'Off the Charts': Report

0
0

If rising temperatures have you dreaming about that first lobster roll of the season, be prepared to get sticker shocked.

The price of lobster has surged over the past few months as Maine, the state the dominates the U.S. lobster haul, saw the catch fall due to a long winter and chilly spring while global demand remains on the rise, according to The Boston Globe. Cold weather in Canada is keeping its fisheries iced over, adding to the shortage.

Hard-shell lobster prices have shot up to about $15 a pound, nearly double from last year's $8 a pound. And restaurants looking to buy pre-shucked lobster meat for their rolls can expect to shell out about $40 a pound.

The Globe surveyed seafood prices in restaurants around Boston and found the cost of many lobster dishes to be "off the charts," the paper reports. A lobster roll at Chef Chris Coombs’ restaurant Deuxave will set you back $49, instead of the usual $22. And another area restaurateur told the Globe that it currently costs $47 to prepare his lobster rolls, but has kept the menu price at $29.

Meanwhile, some restaurants have taken lobster off their menus altogether while others have resorted to asking employees to shuck lobsters in-house to help cut costs, according to the Globe.

But lobster lovers on a budget won't have to wait until next season to buy their favorite crustacean dish at an affordable price. Once temperatures rise and fisheries open up, prices are expected to come back down. 



Photo Credit: Sebastian Artz/Getty Images

Mexican Film Students Were Killed, Dissolved in Acid: Pros.

0
0

Authorities said Monday that three Mexican film students who went missing in March in Guadalajara were kidnapped, tortured and killed, and their bodies were dissolved in acid, NBC News reported.

Javier Salomón Aceves Gastélum, Daniel Díaz, and Marco Ávalo were last seen on March 19 in the municipality of Tonala, in the state of Jalisco, filming a class project during their Spring Break. The three aspiring filmmakers were students at the Universidad de Medios Audiovisuales.

According to state prosecutors, their car broke down during the trip and they were later kidnapped by gunmen from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), who confused them for members of a rival gang.

Academy Award winning director Guillermo del Toro, who is a native of Guadalajara, expressed outrage on social media in response to the killings.

"Words can't explain the dimension of this madness. 3 students are killed and dissolved in acid. The "why" is unthinkable, the "how" is terrifying,” the "Shape of Water" director tweeted.



Photo Credit: ULISES RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images

Photos: Police in West Hartford and Plainville Search for Robbery Suspect

0
0



Photo Credit: West Hartford Police

Spring Brings Seasonal Allergies

0
0

We finally have Spring-like weather, but that means seasonal allergies are here too. 

“When I start seeing the pollen on the car, then I know that I am going to just start getting congested and just start blowing the nose like everybody else does. Some coughing, the usual stuff, so you take the over-the-counter stuff and you can still end up here on the reservoir and enjoy the day,” Tom Vesci said as he enjoyed the nice weather on Tuesday in Avon. 

Doctors from Hartford Healthcare, such as the ones at GoHealth Urgent Care in Avon, said they expect more people to be coming in with the seasonal sniffles. 

“This is just the start of it. Once the trees start blooming, we will start seeing some allergies associated with the pollen and other environmental allergens that are out there,” Dr. Maurice DeFina, the interim medical director at GoHealth in Avon, said. 

If you’re enjoying the weather and notice yourself with nasal congestion, itchy and watery eyes, even a sore throat or a cough, then it is time to see a doctor. 

“There are over-the-counter treatments for this. Antihistamines would be the most common forms to help with the congestion - runny nose, itchy watery eyes and things like that. There's a lot prescription medications, steroid medications that can help prevent these symptoms,” Dr. DeFina said. 

Doctors said allergies can develop, even if you never had them before. If people have symptoms and wait too long before getting help or taking medicine, they can get sick. 

“You can get nasal congestion that builds up over time and that congestion can develop in your sinus cavities as well. If there's no good way for those sinus cavities to drain, you can develop a sinus infection,” DeFina said. 

Some people said spring is just worth it. 

“The Springtime is always worth it. You know, getting outside, even if it's a little bit of allergies - it's wonderful,” Emily Tyksinsky, of Hartford, said.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Health Officials Issue Warning After 2 Cases of Measles

0
0

The state Department of Public Health is issuing a warning after two children in New Haven County contracted the measles while traveling outside of the United States. 

State officials said the two children are under a year old and live in the same house. 

The Department of Public Health said any exposures happened within New Haven County between April 11 and 17.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread quickly among unvaccinated people, but most people have been vaccinated or have had measles in the past, before vaccination became routine, according to health officials. 

“The single best way to protect yourself and your children from measles is to be vaccinated,” DPH Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino said in a statement. “While most people have had the measles vaccination, it’s important to know your vaccination status and to be aware of the signs and symptoms of measles so you can get medical attention.” 

Anyone who is unsure of their vaccination status should check with his or her physician. 

Health officials said people who have had measles in the past or who have been vaccinated against measles are considered immune according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Learn more about the measles from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website. 





Photo Credit: Alissa Eckert/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Meek Mill May Be Released From Prison Tonight

0
0

Jailed rapper Meek Mill is being released from prison on bail following a ruling from Pennsylvania's highest court.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered his release Tuesday after a long  battle dating to November when the Philadelphia rapper was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison for violating his probation.

“We are thrilled that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed Judge Brinkley to immediately issue an order releasing Meek on bail," lawyer Joe Tacopina said in a statement. "As we have said all along, Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail."

Mill, in a post to his Instagram page, thanked a slew of people and God for their support.

"While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive," the statement read in part.

In the decision, Pennsylvania's highest court cited the credibility of Mill's arresting officer, Reginald Graham, who was since been identified on a list of so-called dirty cops in Philadelphia. 

Tuesday's court order answered many of the concerns presented in court by Mill's legal team and by the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. Last week, assistant DA Liam Riley expressed support for a new trial after learning that Mill's arresting officer and his testimony may be tainted. Earlier, the Philly DA's office also expressed support for releasing the rapper on jail. 

But Brinkley denied both bail and a new hearing last week, instead scheduling an evidentiary hearing in June. 

"Meek is excited to be reunited with his family, and we, along with Meek, intend to continue to shine the light on a justice system in need of reform to prevent any other citizen from being put through what Meek has endured," Tacopina said.

The state's highest court also noted that Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley could recuse herself from presiding over any further legal proceedings, Tacopina said.

Since Mill's jailing, the State Correctional Institution in Chester has become a pilgrimage site for some of the most powerful people in sports, politics and entertainment. 

Civil rights advocate Rev. Al Sharpton, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney have all visited Mill there. Actor and comedian Kevin Hart and Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin were just there hours before the court ruling.

Rap icon Jay-Z wrote an op-ed in the New York Times last November citing Mill's jailing as a symbol of systemic racism in the U.S. criminal justice system. "Instead of a second chance, probation ends up being a land mine, with a random misstep bringing consequences greater than the crime," he wrote. 

While Mill's legal team expect him to be released from prison Tuesday, the timing is not known. Brinkley must review the Supreme Court order and sign paperwork to allow bail. Representatives for the prison and courts did not have details as to when that may happen.

As for where Mill will go if released Tuesday night, Ruben, the Sixers owner, posted to Instagram that he was returning to Chester to pick Mill up. Rumors are flying that the rapper could appear at the Wells Fargo Center Tuesday night where the Sixers are set to take on the Miami Heat for game five in the NBA playoffs.

The Supreme Court ruling does not end Mill's legal woes. While he will be free on bail, he will have to face Brinkley within the next two months to discuss whether his case should be revisited. His attorneys have requested that a different judge hear his legal challenge. The Supreme Court denied immediately making that change, though Brinkley could agree to a switch.

This story is breaking. Please check back for updates. 



Photo Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Accreditation Association Rejects CSCU Consolidation Plans

0
0

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) has decided against approving accreditation for the new institution that would be created by consolidating Connecticut’s 12 community colleges.

Connecticut State Colleges and University President Mark Ojakian had presented the Students First plan, which would have consolidated the 12 campuses into one accredited institution. The CSCU system has seen years of reductions due to budget cuts, lapses and holdbacks. The plan, Ojakian argued, would result in $28 million in annual savings and a net job loss of 200 positions.

However, NEASC, which is the regional accreditation association, said that the plan was not simply a “substantive change” to the current model, but rather would create an entirely new institution, which would need to go through the full process of applying for accreditation. The commission ruled that it could not approve the Community College of Connecticut for accreditation based on the current proposal.

“Because of the magnitude of the proposed changes, the proposed timeline and the limited investment in supporting the changes, the Commission is concerned that the potential for a disorderly environmental for students is too high for it to approve the proposed Community College of Connecticut as a candidate for accreditation based on this proposal,” NEASC wrote in a letter.

In a letter to the CSCU community, Ojakian said officials were reviewing their options in light of the decision from NEASC.

“This decision by NEASC is devastating to our ability to hold the line on tuition and keep all campuses open. In the face of an on-going fiscal emergency, it forces us to consider options that we have strongly fought against because it will harm the 50,000 students who rely on their campuses and their campus communities,” Ojakian wrote.

Accreditation affects things like school funding and financial aid.

NEASC’s decision does not necessarily mean the plan was rejected entirely – the commission went on to say that if CSCU moves forward with the plan, they would support efforts to create a comprehensive proposal for candidacy. What the decision does is prevent CSCU officials from moving forward with their proposed timeline, which aimed to have new leadership structures in place by July 2019.

“While we expected further guidance, we did not expect NEASC to redirect us to consider “candidacy for accreditation”, a new process that will take another 5 years. The problems that our institutions and students face cannot wait 5 years. In 5 years, our institutions will be financially insolvent,” Ojakian wrote.

See the full response from NEASC below.




Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Crews Respond to House Fire on Abbe Road in East Windsor


Enfield BOE Member Shares Her Story of Success With Autism

0
0

Any parent, or someone who knows a child with autism, understands that they are gifted, but sometimes there are challenges. Enfield Board of Education member, Sarah Hernandez, is sharing her own story to inspire special needs students.

Hernandez said she’s many things. She’s a mother, an occupational therapist and she’s on the autism spectrum.

“I think a lot of people assume that people who are autistic don’t want to have connections and want to have friendships,” Hernandez said. “Those things are difficult for us sometimes because we can misread social cues, but we want to make connections and we want to have friends, and we’re awesome friends to have.”

Hernandez spoke to students at High Road Academy in Wallingford as part of Autism Awareness Month.

“I think there a lot of negative stigma that comes with the diagnosis,” she said. “I want to expand the definition of what autism is, and show that our strengths really play into a lot of our successes.”

The students told NBC Connecticut they can relate when Hernandez tells them how she copes with stress.

“It made me very proud and want to achieve something higher,” said student Tyler Wahl.

School leaders said she’s an inspiration.

“When you see a positive role model, those doors can open to anything,” said Sue Gilleaudeau, High Road’s Education Director.

“It gives me hope, and my daughter hope that there is something out there for her,” said Wallingford parent, Kimberly Vincent. “She has always felt isolated. Now she’s realizing that they are people like her, that accept her.”

Stewart Taps Running Mate as Convention Approaches

0
0

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, not quite three months into her bid for the state’s highest office, announced Tuesday she had selected Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei as her running mate to serve as Lieutenant Governor.

The pick is far from a sure thing, as delegates will convene at their convention next month at Foxwoods to make formal party supported nominations for all statewide offices.

“He is going to be a true partner in this endeavor that we are signing on for fixing our state,” Stewart said of Tesei during a press conference in front of the State Capitol.

Tesei has spent just about his entire adult life involved in Greenwich politics. He won a set on the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting at the age of 18, and has spent the past decade as the town’s First Selectman.

Up until November 2017, the RTM as it is known, had been in Republican control going back decades, but a rush of Democratic support flipped control.

Tesei said he had not previously considered running for Lieutenant Governor, but described how the circumstances of this election and joining forces with Stewart convinced him it was a good idea.

“While we have a very talented field of people, I think ultimately it’s a mathematical equation in how you can put forward the best team that’s experienced,” Tesei said. Westport businessman Steve Obsitnik had previously received Tesei’s endorsement for governor last year. Obsitnik released a statement later Tuesday saying he still has strong support among Greenwich Republicans.

Stewart has trailed her competitors in fundraising. She said it’s had to do with her short time in the race, pointing out that she’s raised money at a high rate since February. The move to bring Tesei on to her campaign could lead to more campaign contributions from a part of the state where Stewart has little name recognition.

Adding Tesei, she said, shows she is an electable Republican who close to the political center, since her views on collective bargaining and abortion do not align with most other GOP candidates for the office.

“I think the center is where I’m at, maybe a little bit right of it,” Stewart said. “The center I think is where Peter is at. But I think that’s where most of the residents of the state of Connecticut are and at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.”

The Republican convention will be held the weekend of May 11 and 12, where GOP delegates will make their selections for endorsements and who will receive access to the August Primary Ballot. Stewart would need to receive 15 percent of all delegates in order to have a spot on the ballot.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Former MLB, NBA Stars Push for Sports Gambling at CT Capitol

0
0

Professional sports leagues are working hard to ensure states are prepared for the possibility that sports gambling could be authorized in the spring or summer of 2018.

The US Supreme Court is expected to rule on a case that could allow for sports wagering outside of Las Vegas, and many states are attempting to be ready for a rollout of regulations if and when the ruling is handed down.

With that in mind, Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association sent high profile representatives to the Connecticut State Capitol Tuesday to make their case.

“You’ve got to make sure if this is going to be some commerce if you will there has to be some oversight,” said Al Leiter, a former pitcher for the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Florida Marlins, who currently works as an analyst for the MLB Network.

Leiter was joined pitching to lawmakers by Boston Celtics great Cedric Maxwell, as the two met with lawmakers, making their pitch on why the General Assembly should act now to be ready for sports wagering.

Maxwell, who had his numbered retired by the Celtics and won two NBA Championships, said there needs to be a governing body and regulators keeping an eye on the wagers and the leagues.

“You don’t want a black eye for the sport,” Maxwell said. “I think that’s the biggest thing why we’re here and we’re talking about now.”

Politically, coming up with regulations is expected to be a lay-up for the sports leagues, because members of both parties in the General Assembly support putting regulations in place for an industry that could be legalized whether they agree with it or not.

“It’s here. We need to regulate it,” said Rep. Vincent Candelora, (R – North Branford), a member of GOP leadership who has historically been against expansion of gambling efforts. “We need to address it. I don’t think the discussion should ever be around revenue. It should be around protecting the integrity of professional and amateur sports.”

Sports leagues have much to gain, as well. They would expect to earn up to one-quarter of one percent of every wager placed on league sporting events. For instance, that cut would be remitted to the NBA for every wager placed on every NBA game.

To that end, leagues are in agreement that it would be an easier regulatory landscape if the federal government developed a policy, rather than leaving it to the states.

“We’re going to have to monitor a lot of betting activity across states and across gaming operators and that’s going to be made a lot easier for us in a federal framework,” Morgan Sword with Major League Baseball said.

Man Accused of Attacking Pregnant Girlfriend in New London

0
0

A man accused of seriously injuring his pregnant girlfriend during attacks over the course of three days has been arrested.

Nineteen-year-old Samuel Castillo was arrested after his pregnant girlfriend arrived at a hospital in Hartford on April 21 with serious injuries, according to New London police.

Investigators determined Castillo, who was living with the victim in New London, attacked her over a three-day period, police said. The victim's injuries were serious, but not life-threatening.

Castillo was arrested Monday and charged with second-degree kidnapping, second-degree strangulation, second-degree unlawful restraint, assault on a pregnant person, second-degree threatening, disorderly conduct and refusal to be fingerprinted. He was held on a $185,000 bond.



Photo Credit: New London Police Department

17-Year-Old's Death Under Investigation in New London

0
0

New London police are investigating the death of a 17-year-old boy.

Police said emergency crews were called to a home in the area of Linden Street and Ocean Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Monday for a report of an unconscious 17-year-old who was not breathing. The teen was rushed to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The victim has not been identified.

New London police, the New London County State's Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are all investigating.

The cause of death has not yet been determined.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the New London Police Department's Detective Division at 860-447-1481 or anonymous information may be submitted via the New London Tips 411 system by texting NLPDTip plus the information to Tip411 (847411).



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Federal Judge Issues Strongest Order Yet Backing DACA

0
0

A third federal judge on Tuesday ruled against the Trump administration's campaign to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for undocumented immigrants, ordering the administration not only to continue processing applications but also to resume accepting new ones.

U.S. District Judge John Bates of the District of Columbia was withering in his 60-page ruling, calling the administration's attempts to end the program, known as DACA, "arbitrary," "capricious," "virtually unexplained" and "unlawful," NBC News reported.

Bates stayed the ruling for 90 days to give the Department of Homeland Security time to come up with better arguments for scrapping the program. If it doesn't, he wrote, he will enter an order reinstating DACA in its entirety.



Photo Credit: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Groton Food Service Workers Paying Off Student Lunch Debt

0
0

Food service staffers are Groton Public Schools refuse to let students go hungry, and with that in mind, they're working to make up thousands of dollars in delinquent lunch accounts.

Groton’s food service director said they never let a child go hungry, or embarrass them by swapping out a hot meal for a cheaper one, just because they don’t have the money for breakfast or lunch.

“We have a lot of families that are just on the cusp of free or reduced lunch applications,” explained Food Service Director Ernie Koschmieder.

About 540 students have delinquent meal accounts, and right now there is about $14,000 dollars in student lunch debts. By the end of the year, there could be up to $20,000.

“They’re children. They have one job and that is to go to school and to learn and they cannot learn if they have an empty stomach,” said Mary Morrisson Elementary School Kitchen Manager Kristina Crandall.

Crandall spear-headed a new fundraising effort with her colleagues and the community to help make up the difference. It’s called Feed Their Bodies, Fuel Their Minds.

“My whole thing on this is it takes a village. And this village is strong,” Crandall said.

About 35 different vendors participated in a vendor fair earlier this month. Koshmieder said they’ve already racked up $3,500 from that, and parents are calling in to donate. There is also a fundraiser at Buffalo Wild Wings, which runs into October.

Koschmieder said food services isn’t part of the school budget, but the district is responsible for making up the debt, which means principals could have to cut field trips or other special events without the funds.


Poor Maintenance Likely Led to Newington Fuel Leak: Expert

0
0

The results of an investigation into a large fuel spill in Newington late last year were released at a meeting Tuesday night, and according to the findings of the independent expert the town brought in, the whole mess could likely have been avoided had someone just been paying attention.

Thousands of gallons of diesel fuel leaked in an underground vault at the Connecticut Board of Education bus garage on Garfield Street last December. It wasn’t discovered until a resident reported an odor to town officials.

“Quite frankly, it stinks. Literally and figuratively,” said Newington Mayor Roy Zartarian (R).

As many as 160 gallons of diesel fuel may have been leaking out per day by the time the spill was discovered, more than a year after it started.

“Late 2015 to late 2017 the Board of Ed had 142,000 gallons of diesel fuel delivered. According to the records from fuel master, they only dispensed 18,600,” explained Dr. Gordon Binkhorst, senior hydrogeologist at ALTA Environmental Corp.

The investigation found the leak originated from an eroded pump that carried fuel for Board of Education vehicles. Binkhorst told the council it appeared the pump was only minimally, if at all maintained, and there was virtually no proper accounting of the amount of fuel it carried.

“The operation of the tank system basically consisted of Board of Ed personnel periodically sticking the tank and ordering diesel fuel on an as-needed basis. They did not complete any routine inspections or maintenance of the tank system according to service records and interviews,” Binkhorst said.

Frustration about the enormous lapse and the money wasted on roughly 14,000 gallons of unused fuel was echoed by many residents at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“It should’ve been known easily when 50 gallons was missing. Instead we got thousands of gallons missing,” one resident complained.

The town has received $1.5 million from the state to cover some of the more than $2 million needed to fix the leak, and some of its environmental damage. But the total cost of the spill, or what will be done in response to all of this, is still unknown.

“Something simple should have been done and wasn’t and as a consequence, we have this environmental disaster on our hands,” Zartarian said.

The Town Council has no authority or jurisdiction over the personnel employed by the Board of education, so they aren’t in a position to terminate anyone or make changes that could have prevented this on a personnel level. But the mayor said the council hopes to sit down with the Board of Education and come up with a plan of action.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Heavy Rain Expected Today

0
0

Heavy rains are expected today as a system moves through the state.

The rain will overspread the state this morning and the whole state will see off and on rain with some downpours.

The heaviest rain is expected late this morning and midday, diminishing into the afternoon.

The NBC Connecticut meteorologists are predicting that one to two inches of rain are possible.

There might be some nuisance flooding issues, but significant problems are not expected.

Highs today are expected in the 50s.

For more on the forecast, click here.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Man in Custody After Standoff in Hartford

0
0

An hours-long standoff in Hartford ended peacefully Wednesday morning after a man surrendered peacefully.

An armed man had threatened his wife, while his two children were sleeping upstairs in a home on Monroe Street, near Ansonia Street, in Hartford, according to police.

Police received a 911 call around midnight, according to Deputy Chief Brian Foley, and the woman on the phone said her husband was threatening her.

When police responded she ran out of the home, but her two young children were still asleep upstairs and police were made aware that the man had several guns.

“Our officers responded, initiated a dialogue with him. As a result, we called in our crisis negotiators, our emergency response team, and went through our protocols through that situation,” Foley said.

Police closed several streets surrounding the home and evacuated neighbors as a precaution.

After a few hours, the man surrendered peacefully and his children were unharmed and unaware of what was happening, police said.

“Thankfully it proceeded positively. Eventually, after a few hours, the person emerged from the house peacefully, surrendered. He’s been taken to Hartford Hospital, he’ll be evaluated there and will likely face some criminal charges,” Foley said.

Police said no shots were fired and there were no threats made against the public or the police.




Harry Reid: Trump Is a Disaster, But Don't Talk Impeachment

0
0

Former Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said he worries U.S. institutions have been “decimated” under President Donald Trump, who he says is not a "nice man."

But the longtime Democratic leader is warning members of his party that "the less we talk about impeachment the better we are."

"I’ve been through impeachment, and they’re not pleasant," he told NBC News in his first network interview since leaving the Senate in 2016.

Reid also expressed disappointment that Republicans were unwilling to warn the public about Russian meddling during the election.

"My colleagues were afraid," he said. "They were afraid of Trump. They were afraid of [James] Comey, the FBI.”

In October 2016, Reid sent a letter to Comey blasting him for withholding “explosive” information about Trump and Russia even as the FBI chief held a press conference about Hillary Clinton’s emails.



Photo Credit: AP

Port Authority Commissioner to Cops: 'You May Shut the F Up'

0
0

UPDATE: Man Accidentally Caught in Port Authority Chief Rant Speaks Out

A recently resigned Port Authority commissioner was captured on police dash cam ranting at two police officers on a New Jersey roadway, yelling at them, "You may shut the f--- up!" after they pulled over a car in which her daughter was a passenger over Easter weekend.

Caren Z. Turner abruptly resigned on Monday as the Port Authority said that it was investigating allegations that she'd violated the board's code of ethics.

A spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement to News 4, "The Board takes its recently adopted Code of Ethics for Commissioners extremely seriously... Commissioner Turner’s resignation was appropriate given her outrageous conduct."

Turner could not be reached for comment Tuesday. No one answered the door at her listed home address. 

Turner, a 60-year-old Democratic lobbyist who served as ethics chair of the Port Authority, had been called by her daughter on March 31 to pick up her and several friends on Route 9W after the car in which they were riding was impounded, according to a police report. When Turner arrives, video obtained by News 4 shows her introducing herself to the officers, saying, "I'm here as a concerned citizen and friend of the mayor." 

She asks why they were pulled over, and an officer responds, "The driver has all the information, he'll tell you all you need to know," adding that she wasn't involved in the traffic stop. 

"No, no, no. I'm involved. Trust me. I'm very involved," she said. 

Turner shows them something -- later identified in a police report as a Port Authority gold badge -- and says, "I am the commissioner of the Port Authority, and I am heading up over 4,000 police officers, OK?" 

"Let's hear -- why were they pulled over, first of all?" Turner says.

One of the officers responds, "Miss --"

Turner interrupts him, "No, no, no, don't call me 'Miss.' I'm 'Commissioner.' Thank you." 

The officer reiterates that she can ask the driver of the vehicle herself why the car was pulled over. Turner does not relent, however, and presses him: "I just want to know why."

The officer tells her, "I just don't appreciate your demeanor. You're being very demanding with me," the officer says.

The tense exchange continues for several minutes. 

"There's a problem with you describing it because you don't feel confident why these people are being pulled over," Turner says.

The officer responds, "Your daughter is not being summoned. She was not the driver, it's not her vehicle, it's not your vehicle. How are you involved?"

Turner vows to meet with the Tenafly police commissioner over the traffic stop, and then tells the officer, "I hope you have a really nice holiday weekend, because you just ruined it for a lot of people."

As she continues to complain, the officer suggests they move the conversation to another location because they were on a high-speed road. Turner says sarcastically, "I'm so sorry, thank you for your concern for my safety. I don't need it. You can't put a sentence together, sorry. That's pathetic. You are a disappointment." 

Then she turns to the other officer, "And you are just following him. So you are also a disappointment." 

When the first officer tells Turner that she "may" now escort the group away, she responds, "You may not tell me when to take my child. You may shut the f--- up and not tell me when I may take my kid and her friends, who are Ph.D. students from M.I.T. and Yale. You may tell me nothing, because you told me nothing. Shame on both of you." 

Later, out of sight of the camera, after the car is impounded by a police-contracted towing operator, she tells the officer: "I hope you're happy because you seem to have a smug-ass look on your face and it seems to please you." 

The officer says, "You work with police officers, correct?"

She responds, "Yeah, I work with 4,000 of them."

He says, "I'm just a little disappointed that --"

She interrupts, "You don't get to be disappointed in me."

But the officer continues, "You don't seem like a very big police supporter, I don't know. It seems like you would have more of an inside look at the job... it just caught me by surprise, your demeanor a little bit, using inappropriate words and such."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah," Turner says. "You know what, Matt? This isn't going to go down like this." 

She later says, "The police have all been in my home, and in my second home, and in my third home in Tenafly."

Tenafly Police Chief Robert Chamberlain told NJ.com he would let the video speak for itself. He had sent a copy of the video to the Port Authority Inspector General, along with the incident report by the officers.

He added in a statement to News 4 Wednesday that he was "extremely proud of the composure, poise and restraint" the two officers showed in the video. He also thanked the Port Authority "for their professionalism and prompt attention to the matter."

The officer said in the report that he told her he was under no legal obligation to fill her in on what happened because all the occupants in the car were adults. Turner "became further enraged and began using profanity," the report said. 

The traffic stop stemmed from side tinted windows -- which are not legal in New Jersey -- and a partially obscured license plate. Police called a tow truck to impound the car and issued several summonses to the driver. 

Dash cam video from that portion of the traffic stop shows the driver and the police officer speaking calmly. The car is owned by the parents of the driver's girlfriend, who was also in the car, and the officer explains to the driver that the car has been unregistered for two years: "We can't have an unregistered car that's operating on the street."

The officer says the car has to be impounded, and the driver nods and responds agreeably through the conversation, even prompting the officer to tell him, "You seem like a really nice guy, I don't mean to be doing this to you, putting you in this spot. I genuinely believe you had no idea, 100 percent."

The Port Authority oversees airports, bridges, tunnels and rail facilities across the region. It also owns and manages the World Trade Center site.

Turner was appointed to the Port Authority last year by then-Gov. Chris Christie, and has served on finance committees for Hillary Clinton and Gov. Jon Corzine, NJ.com reports. 



Photo Credit: News 4 NY
Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images