Part of Route 9 southbound in New Britain is closed after a motorcycle crash with a life-threatening injury on Saturday afternoon.
State Police say Route 9 southbound at exit 28 and Route 72 eastbound prior to the on-ramp for Route 9 southbound are closed.
It is unclear how long the highway will be closed for.
Police have not released additional details about the accident.
Roads were closed and people were evacuated when an Ellington man barricaded himself inside his home Saturday morning. After several tense hours, negotiators were finally able to convince the man to come out.
State police say the incident started when a man began firing a handgun outside this old farmhouse along Route 83 at 3:00 a.m.
“The disturbance involved a handgun being shot off in the yard among other factors that came into play in that particular disturbance,” said MAJ Michael Darcy, State Police Commander.
Darcy called this a possible domestic disturbance involving a despondent individual. Police said he barricaded himself inside one of the farmhouse’s two apartments. The town’s first selectman says the man’s girlfriend was able to escape. The people living next door were evacuated and residents in a nearby apartment complex were urged to shelter in place.
“From the time state police first arrived on scene they had no contact with this individual there were no shots fired,” said Darcy.
When state police were unable to make contact with the man, they called in a SWAT team which set up a perimeter around the home, shutting down Route 83.
“They’ve been patient talking with him and they just kept talking and talking to him,” said Lori Spielman, Ellington’s First Selectman.
Spielman said she contacted the six businesses located within the closure to let them know that traffic would not be getting through.
After five hours, authorities said the situation ended peacefully.
“He exited the home and surrendered of his own volition. He was cooperative,” said Darcy.
Darcy said the man was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. He said investigators seized several firearms from inside the apartment, including handguns and long guns.
The end of a fireworks show in Middletown on Saturday caused quite a scare when the barge shooting them off caught on fire.
A viewer sent us video from the fireworks show. She says the show was still going on when the fire broke out, but got really big toward the finale.
According to Mayor Dan Drew, there was an unexpected fire on the barge that grew pretty big. He says during the fire, a few shells exploded on the surface of the barge. The shooters were inside of a steel box on the deck the entire time.
On Sunday, Mayor Drew released an update on the cause of the fire on Facebook. He said, "our theory of the fire at this point is that three dud shells that exploded low ignited the plastic PVC tubing that holds the shells prior to launch. Normally, as you know, the shells detonate high enough that ignited portions go out before coming down. Some of these exploded low enough that it appears they were still incendiary when they landed on the plastic."
Firefighters from Cromwell, Middletown and Portland who were on boats were able to extinguish the fire.
Nobody was injured.
Police in West Haven are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect from a robbery on Saturday.
Officers say a man wearing an orange shirt, red shorts and a camo hat entered the 7-11 at the intersection of Campbell Avenue and First Avenue around 10:00 p.m.
According to police, the man walked directly to the counter and passed the clerk a note saying he had a gun and wanted the money. He then showed something in his waistband to the clerk who turned over cash from the register. The man then immediately left the store and fled on foot.
If you have information regarding the robbery or if you recognize the man in the photos, you're asked to call Detective Fazzino at (203) 937-3905 or dispatch at (203) 937-3900. All calls with information or tips from the public can be submitted anonymously.
A man is recovering from non life-threatening injuries after being shot in Hartford on Saturday.
Police say they responded to Farmington Avenue around 7:15 p.m. after getting a report of a person shot. When they arrived, they say they found a man with non life-threatening gunshot wounds to his stomach and right shoulder.
According to officers, the man told them that he had been shot in front of the Domino's Pizza restaurant at 312 Farmington Avenue and he ran to 264 Farmington Avenue. He told police that he only heard the shots, but did not see anyone shooting at him.
While investigating, police say the man became very uncooperative with officers.
Police were not able to find shell casings or anything else of evidentiary value and no witnesses to the actual shooting could be found.
LifeStar is responding to a motorcycle crash that has closed part of I-95 in Stonington on Sunday afternoon.
Police say the northbound side of the highway is closed between exits 90 and 91.
It is unclear how long the highway will be closed for.
Police are investigating a shooting in Bloomfield on Sunday morning.
Neighbors say they heard loud partying outside 20 Brookdale Avenue, followed by fighting that spilled into the street and down the block.
Officers say they responded to Brookdale Avenue shortly before 5:00 a.m. after getting a report of an assault with a firearm.
When police arrived, they found a 33-year-old man from Hartford lying in the road with numerous gunshot wounds.
According to police, he was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition.
"I heard gunshots this morning at 5:00. I haven't heard gunshots before, but today there was gunshots adn then a car sped off really quick after that," said Peggy Beaulieu, a neighbor.
Officers believe the suspect left the area in a white vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to call Bloomfield Police at (860) 242-5501.
Former NFL player Brandon Browner was arrested Sunday afternoon near Azusa after being wanted for a long list of charges, including kidnapping, burglary, false imprisonment and violation of a restraining order in relation to an incident that took place earlier in the morning.
Officers in the La Verne Police Department responded to a call at 10:07 a.m. on Sunday morning related to a man who broke into a home through a locked window. Browner was identified as the intruder and allegedly physically forced the victim back into her residence when she attempted to flee.
The former NFL pro allegedly physically harmed and made threats to kill the victim inside the residence per the La Verne PD. Browner fled the scene before police arrived and is alleged to have taken a Rolex watch valued at $20,000 from the victim before leaving the scene.
In addition, Browner had a previous relationship with the victim and had previously been arrested for domestic violence and was restrained from the victim according to police.
The La Verne Police Department located Browner on Sunday afternoon and took him into custody on felony charges related to the morning incident.
The Los Angeles native has previously been arrested for domestic battery and child endangerment in 2018 and possession of cocaine in 2017 per TMZ.
The 33-year-old was born in Los Angeles and attended high school in Sylmar.
Browner won two Super Bowls during his 11-year professional football career. The former cornerback was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2011 and played for the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints during his NFL career, which spanned from 2005 to 2016. Browner also played for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League.
Police are investigating a homicide in West Haven Monday morning.
A 36-year-old man was driving his vehicle in the rear lot of an apartment building at 215 Jaffrey Street around 1 a.m. when he was shot, according to police.
The car continued and slammed into the apartment, causing extensive damage to the apartment, police said.
The victim was found a short distance from the crash and was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police are not releasing the victim's name until his family is notified.
Power and water had to be shut off to the apartment building because of the damage caused by the crash, police said.
As some prominent Democrats call for the demolition of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, others in the party, including its leaders in Congress, have recommended reexamining the agency rather than eliminating it, creating a widening gulf in the party, NBC News reported.
Potential 2020 presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand are among the Democrats who have expressed support for the movement to abolish ICE. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., drafted legislation to eliminate the agency, though the bill hasn't been formally unveiled.
Signs and chants about abolishing ICE were prevalent during immigration marches across the country last month. However, Democrats who oppose the idea don't believe it would have a practical impact.
“Whatever happens to ICE, Trump is still going to be the president and he’s going to have the power and it’s still going to be his policies,” Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, told NBC News Thursday.
Police are investigating the shooting death of a man in Hartford as the city's 14th homicide.
Officers responded to 84 Love Lane at 11:47 p.m. Sunday after receiving reports that someone had been shot and found 49 year-old Thomas Smith lying on the sidewalk. He’d been shot twice.
Smith, a Hartford resident, was transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators believe Smith was specifically targeted, and that there is no threat to the public, according to police.
The homicide is under investigation by detectives from the Hartford Police Major Crimes Division and Crime Scene Division.
Firefighters were battling a large fire at a business in Stratford on Monday morning.
Video from the scene showed heavy smoke and flames coming from the building at 10 Research Drive around 6:45 a.m.
A few workers were inside Soundsphere and were mixing chemicals when the fire broke out, according to the fire chief. They do not yet know how or where the fire started, he said.
The company assembles speakers at the location.
No one was injured.
State police have arrested a 23-year-old woman in connection with a fatal May 2017 accident on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Orange.
Taylor Stanford was arrested on Friday and charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle under the influence and reckless driving.
Stanford was driving at a high rate of speed on Route 15 South near exit 57 when she veered left, hit a curb, lost control of her car and struck another car being driving by 44-year-old Michael Zawadski, according to state police.
Zawadski was thrown from his vehicle as it rolled over and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Stanford was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.
After a blood test, it was determined that Stanford had a blood alcohol content of .16, which is twice the legal limit, according to state police. She also had traces of cannabinoids in her blood, police said.
Stanford was released on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 16.
Two JetBlue flight attendants who have a soft spot for French Bulldogs are credited with saving the life of a traveling pup after her tongue went blue during the flight.
On a JetBlue flight Thursday from Florida to Worcester, Massachusetts, Michele and Steven Burt's Frenchie, Darcy, started having trouble breathing, Masslive reported.
The Burts were traveling with their three dogs when Michele noticed Darcy trying to push her head out of the carrier. Michele unzipped the carrier, allowing the dog to stick her face out.
"I noticed that her tongue was blue, and I am aware that is a sign of insufficient oxygen (Hypoxia), so I pulled her out from under the seat and placed her on my lap to cool down and help her relax as she was panicking and breathing frantically," Michele wrote in a letter to JetBlue, which was provided to Masslive.
A flight attendant reminded Michele that because of regulations, Darcy had to remain in the carrier under her seat. Michele informed the attendant that her dog needed help.
The Burts say crew members Renaud Spencer and Diane Asher are responsible for keeping Darcy alive.
After bringing Darcy ice bags to cool her down, she continued to breathe heavily.
"Renaud, who explained that he also had a French Bulldog 'Penelope,' brought a small oxygen tank with a mask attached and offered it saying, 'Maybe this will help,'" Michele wrote in the letter.
She placed the mask over Darcy's face and she soon became alert again, no longer needing the mask.
"I believe Renaud and Diane saved a life, some may reduce the value of life because Darcy is a canine -- I do not," Michele wrote.
In a statement released to NBC, JetBlue responded to Michele's letter saying they were glad the crew was so helpful.
"Our mission is to inspire humanity, and we're very proud of those outstanding crew members who consistently demonstrate a passion for excellent customer service," JetBlue wrote.
A gas leak shut down part of Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury on Monday.
The road is closed at the intersection with House Street, according to police. The off ramp from Route 2 West onto Hebron Avenue is also closed.
No one was injured and there are no evacuations of the surrounding area, police said.
Crews are working to repair the break.
Hamden police arrested a woman they say broke into the home of a grandmother and grandson on Friday.
Police were called to the home on Beacon Street and found Christina Salgueiro in the third-floor apartment along with the grandmother and a 10-year-old boy who lived there.
As officers tried to arrest Salgueiro, she repeatedly punched one of the officers in the head and spat blood and saliva at them, according to police.
Salgueiro, 27, of Hamden, was charged with second-degree burglary, three counts of assault of a police officer, second-degree breach of peace, second-degree threatening, third-degree criminal mischief and risk of injury to a minor.
She was held on $50,000 bond.
Coventry Lake will be closed to swimming on Thursday so the water can be treated for a highly invasive plant.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Town of Coventry will be using an herbicide to try and control Hydrilla.
Hyrdrilla is a non-native submerged weed that has been dubbed the "world's worst invasive aquatic plant," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It can crowd out other aquatic plants and change the chemistry of the water it's in, the agency said.
Swimming will be off limits on Thursday, but boating and fishing will not be affected. The DEEP boat ramp will remain open.
Using water from the lake for irrigating grass, shrubs and most plants is not restricted, but the water should not be used to irrigate plants such as tomatoes, peppers and tobacco, through October 13, according to Solitude Lake Management. The water should also not be used on newly-seeded lawns.
Two "booster" treatments will also be performed within the next 45-60 days, the company said.
The family of a New Orleans teen shot and killed last month is honoring his memory in a unique way.
Seventeen-year-old Renard Matthews loved the Boston Celtics and playing video games, which is exactly how his family wanted to remember him at his wake on Sunday, WDSU reported.
Matthews' body was dressed in a Kyrie Irving Boston Celtics jersey and Celtics socks. He was posed to hold a video game controller while sitting next to some of his favorite food, photos showed.
On June 25, New Orleans police received a call that a person was "down" and found Matthews' body with a gunshot wound to the head, the Times-Picayune reported.
Matthews had been walking his dog when shot and was also robbed of his cellphone, his aunt told the newspaper.
Police have not arrested a suspect.
The teen will reportedly be buried on Tuesday.
Summer break means summer jobs for young people in the Hartford area. On Monday the Community Renewal Team (CRT) held their job fair for their Summer Youth Employment Program.
“Today is an awesome day. All of the employers that said they would collaborate with us and hire our youth for the summer are actually here to interview the youth,” said Cynthia Baisden, the program manager.
Young people between the ages of 14 to 21 years old will get professional experience in Hartford and East Hartford through the six-week summer program. This year there are double the amount of students and until a week and a half ago, not enough businesses were signed up to help out. After NBC Connecticut brought attention to the issue, employers came pouring in.
“We have 190 kids here today, they are meeting with perspective employers from all across Hartford and East Hartford to learn about the job opportunities they will have this summer. All of the kids who go through interviews today, they will be placed with a job that they go to on Monday and then they will be with us working for the next 6 weeks,” said Jason Black, the Strategic Communication Specialist for CRT.
CRT gets their funding from outside partners, then manages the program and the payroll. The students get paid to work and it doesn’t cost the businesses a thing. In the end, the payoff is priceless.
“It's amazing, it teaches you skills to be independent and it teaches you leadership skills, communication - social skills, it is just an amazing experience to have,” said 17-year-old Maya Sanabria.
Sanabria is going into her third year in the program and just graduated from high school. She said the program has changed her life and she is hopeful it will only grow from here.
“They need to keep this going because it's great for us youth,” said Sanabria.
The following businesses are all hiring students in the program to work for the summer:
Employers:
CRT - Behavioral Health Services
CRT – East Hartford Family Shelter (serves the homeless)
CRT - Community Services
CRT – HR Department
CRT – IT Department
CRT - McKinney Shelter (homeless shelter for men in Hartford)
CRT – Operations
CRT - The Retreat (assisted living facility)
CRT – Youth Artisan & Technology Center
CRT - Early Childhood Education
CRT – Finance Department
CRT – Nutrition (includes summer food programs for kids, along with Meals on Wheels for seniors)
CRT – Planning Department
CVS - Farmington Ave., Hartford
Ebony Horsewomen
Exclusive Linez
Girl Scouts
Greater Hartford Pro Am
Hartford Communities That Care
It's a Gee Thang
The Village for Children and Families
The West Indian Foundation Summer Academy
Wilson Gray YMCA
Juice Works
Hartford Public School - MD Fox Elementary School
Burlington Coat Factory
Community Matters, LLC
East Hartford Public Schools – Facilities
East Hartford Public Schools - IT Dept
East Hartford Public Schools - Outreach Dpt.
The Ultimate Shoebar
TJ Maxx
Young Educated & Determined to Succeed, Inc.
Town of East Hartford - Library
Town of East Hartford - Park & Rec
Town of East Hartford - Inspection & Permits
A Greenwich man was killed and two other men seriously injured in a crash on Interstate 95 in Stamford Monday.
Police said 28-year-old Michael Chavez was a passenger in a vehicle traveling on I-95 north near exit 6 around 4:10 a.m. The vehicle veered off the highway onto the grass shoulder and crashed onto a concrete wall before rolling over onto its roof.
Chavez, who police said was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead on scene.
The driver and another passenger were taken to Stamford Hospital with serious injuries.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
