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Madrid-Bound Plane Makes Emergency Landing at Logan Airport

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A Spain-bound flight from New York made an emergency landing at Logan Airport in Boston after an Iberia Airways plane experienced a technical problem in one of the aircraft’s engine.

A spokeswoman for the plane says Flight IB6252 landed with no incident and all 265 passengers were safe and uninjured.

The flight initially departed at 9:15 p.m. from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and was set for Madrid. An hour and a half after takeoff, crews detected the problem, according to the spokeswoman.

Iberia is rebooking its passengers with 54 travelers being flown non-stop to Lisbon and Madrid from Boston. The rest of the travelers will be taken to New York via bus, where there are "more options to rebook them from there."


Man Arrested in Connection to Untimely Death in Meriden

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Police have arrested a man in connection to an untimely death in Meriden from 2016.

Officers were called to a home on Allen Avenue in September of 2016. When they arrived, police said they found 24-year-old Alex Comforte dead. Police originally deemed it an untimely death.

Through multiple interviews, analysis of phone records and collaborative efforts with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's Office, police said they collected enough evidence for a criminal case.

On Sunday, police charged 26-year-old William C. Roberts with manslaughter and multiple counts of sale of a controlled substance, in connection to Comforte's death.

Detectives believe Roberts sold drugs to Comforte, which contributed to his untimely death.



Photo Credit: Meriden Police

Man Seriously Injured, Found in Tree After Motorcycle Crash in Manchester

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A man is in the hospital in critical condition after a motorcycle crash in Manchester early Wednesday morning.

Police said they were called to Highland Street around 1:40 a.m. after getting a report of a motorcycle in the middle of the road, in front of Highland Park Market.

When officers arrived, they found a single motorcycle on the road, on the yellow lines.

Officers said they walked around the area, trying to find the driver. After a few minutes, the driver, later identified as a man from Vernon, was found in a tree off of the road, near the guardrails.

Paramedics transported the man to Hartford Hospital with severe, life-threatening injuries. He is currently in critical condition, officials said.

If you witnessed the crash, you're encouraged to contact police at (860) 643-8620. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Suspect in North Carolina Homicide Located in New Haven

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A man suspected in a homicide in North Carolina was taken into custody in New Haven.

State police said authorities in North Carolina and the United States Secret Service asked for help to find 46-year-old Jamahn Johnson, of Clinton, North Carolina, who was wanted in connection with an incident in his hometown on Sept. 4.

There was a warrant charging Johnson with first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon and New Haven Police found him in the area of Sherman Parkway and Willis Street, according to Connecticut State Police.

Johnson was charged as a fugitive for justice and is due to be arraigned today in New Haven Superior Court.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Injuries Reported, Heavy Delays After Crash on I-291 in Windsor

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Injuries are reported in a crash on Interstate 291 in Windsor and there are heavy delays. 

State police said the crash happened on the westbound side of the highway but a car is stuck on the median, so the left lane is blocked in both directions. 

No information was immediately available on the extent of the injuries.



Photo Credit: Connecticut Department of Transportation

Interactive: Hurricane Florence Path, Rainfall and Storm Surge Maps

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Hurricane Florence is barreling toward the East Coast as a major hurricane and is expected to bring damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge and rainfall. Hurricane watches and warnings affect more than 5.4 million people and President Donald Trump has declared states of emergency for North and South Carolina and Virginia. Below are maps that show the storm’s predicted path and severe effects. The maps will be updated as new information becomes available.


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Trump Admin. Moved FEMA Funds to ICE Removal Operations

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As Hurricane Florence threatened the U.S. East Coast with devastating storm surge and damaging winds, documents made public Tuesday showed that the Trump administration had recently moved nearly $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the agency tasked with detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants.

The funds are detailed in a Transfer and Reprogramming Notifications report from the Department of Homeland Security. The documents show about $9.8 million dollars being removed from FEMA’s 2018 fiscal year budget and given to DHS’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement for “enforcement and removal operations.” The documents said the money would support the agency’s “detention beds” and “transportation and removal program.” 

The U.S. Secret Service was also listed as a recipient of the reallocated funds for “protection of persons and facilities.” 

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) provided the report to MSNBC's “The Rachel Maddow Show” Tuesday night. Merkley, who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the reallocation happened this summer. 

DHS confirmed to “The Rachel Maddow Show” that the transfers were made, and a department spokesperson claimed “the money did not come from any of our disaster response and recovery efforts.” 

However, the documents show that millions of dollars were removed from FEMA’s budget for “Response and Recovery.” 

Transferring money between agencies is not out of the ordinary and within the authority for the administration. But it is unusual, Merkley said, to see millions of dollars being taken from FEMA as the hurricane season kicks off.

“I find it extraordinary,” Merkley told Maddow.

DHS spokesperson Tyler Houlton further defended the department's actions on Twitter Wednesday, writing, "Under no circumstances was any disaster relief funding transferred from @fema to immigration enforcement efforts. This is a sorry attempt to push a false agenda at a time when the administration is focused on assisting millions on the East Coast facing a catastrophic disaster. The money in question — transferred to ICE from FEMA’s routine operating expenses — could not have been used for hurricane response due to appropriation limitations. DHS/FEMA stand fiscally and operationally ready to support current and future response and recovery needs."

Hurricane Florence was on a path Wednesday morning to slam into the United States. It was expected to blow ashore early Saturday and dump torrential rain onto the Carolinas. 

"This storm is going to knock out power days into weeks. It's going to destroy infrastructure. It's going to destroy homes," said Jeff Byard, an official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

Byard added that the agency has all the resources it needs to react to the natural disaster.



Photo Credit: AP, File
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CT National Guard Heads South to Help as Hurricane Approaches

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Several members of the Connecticut Army National Guard are heading to the southeastern United States to be there to help as Hurricane Florence approaches.

As of Wednesday, Hurricane Florence is a potentially catastrophic Category 4 storm and evacuations have been ordered in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. 

Around 10 Connecticut Army National Guard soldiers left Wednesday morning in two aircraft, a Chinook and Blackhawk, which will be in Knoxville, Tennessee, is west of storm's path.

It’s not clear what their mission will be, but the National Guard is prepared to lift people off roofs if needed or transport supplies like water or generators.

“Either ferrying workers in, bringing people out, doing search and rescue missions,” Sgt. Michael Justo, of the Connecticut Army National Guard said. “We’re prepared for any eventuality that we need to do that.”

NBC Connecticut Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan is tracking the storm with the Air Force Reserve and the Hurricane Hunter flight, which is providing a low-level reconnaissance of the storm's exact location to gather critical information.  

Follow the path of the flight online here.  



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Convicted Felons Found With Gun, Drugs in West Haven: PD

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Police have arrested two men who they said are convicted felons after they were found with a gun and drugs in a car in West Haven on Tuesday.

Undercover officers saw a vehicle near 750 First Avenue around 12:30 p.m. that they said matched the description of a reported vehicle that was actively distributing heroin in West Haven.

Officers detained the driver, later identified as 20-year-old Michael Baldwin, of New Haven, without incident.

The front seat passenger, later identified as 30-year-old Taevon Alson, also of New Haven, was seen reaching toward the passenger side floorboard when officers instructed him to exit the vehicle. Police removed him from the vehicle and said they later found a loaded 9 millimeter handgun with a red laser attached.

Officers said they also found approximately 75 individual bags of crack cocaine and 25 wax folds of heroin packaged for street sale inside of the vehicle.

Both Baldwin and Alston are convicted felons and have prior gun charges, according to police.

Police said both Baldwin and Alston are facing charges including possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell a narcotic, criminal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. Alston is also facing an interfering with an officer charge.

Both men were processed, charged and held on bond, police said.



Photo Credit: West Haven Police

Man Traps Officer's Leg in Door, Found With Drugs in Watertown: PD

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Watertown Police have arrested a man who they say trapped an officer's leg in a door and was found with drugs in his home on Tuesday.

Officers were investigating smoke at a house on Westbury Park Road when they saw what they believed was a marijuana plant inside of the garage.

While police were investigating the incident, they made contact with a resident in the home, later identified as 33-year-old Michael Padilla Jr. At first, police said Padilla was cooperative with them, but then he slammed the door shut and trapped an officer's leg inside of the residence. Police said Padilla was pushing on the door in order to not allow the officer's leg out.

After a struggle, the officer was able to deploy his taser, which did not hit Padilla, but did allow the door to be opened. Padilla continued to fight with officers before he was taken into custody, according to officials.

Investigators obtained a search and seizure warrant for the property. When they executed it, police said they found one mature marijuana plant with grow lights, approximately six abused opiate pills, 30 single packs of marijuana edibles, approximately 30 grams of marijuana, 2.2 ounces of a marijuana-type product that police described as an edible, one strip of LSD, one small container of "magic sand," which police said is ecstasy/MDMA and nine grams of what appeared to be Psilocybin mushrooms.

Officers said some drugs were found in the freezer and others were found in kitchen cabinets that were available to everyone in the home. A rifle and a shotgun were also found in the home unsecured.

According to police, since two children under the age of 15 were living in the home, the Department of Children and Families was notified. 

Padilla is facing charges including interfering with an officer, breach of peace, possession of hallucinogenic, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of narcotics, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and risk of injury to a minor.

Padilla posted a $50,000 bond and will be in Waterbury Superior Court on September 25.



Photo Credit: Watertown Police

Man Charged in Attack in Southington Parking Lot

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Police have arrested one man after an assault at the municipal parking lot in Southington Center last month and they are looking for one other person in connection with the case. 

Police responded to the lot at 1:47 a.m. on Aug. 19 to investigate reports of a fight and said 21-year-old Landin Rutledge, of Bristol, got into a dispute with someone, punched the victim in the head and knocked him unconscious, according to the warrant.

While the victim was on the ground, Rutledge allegedly “stomped” on his head, police said, citing the warrant.

The injured person suffered serious head injuries and was transported from the scene to a local hospital.

Police said they are looking for an acquaintance who is accused of punching an acquaintance of the victim, causing an eye laceration. The victim of that attack was also transported to a local hospital. 

Rutledge was charged with assault in the first degree and second-degree assault. He was held on a $100,000 bond.

Police do not know the name of the person who Rutledge was with and they are investigating.



Photo Credit: Southington Police

Wolcott School Dismissed Early Due to Lack of Water

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Tyrrell Middle School in Wolcott dismissed at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday because of loss of water at the school. 

All afternoon activities are canceled, according to the Facebook post from Wolcott Public Schools. 

Parents in need of assistance should call the Tyrrell Middle School office at 203-879-8151 for assistance. Buses will run their normal routes. 

School officials expect a normal day of school Thursday and all other schools will run on their regular schedule today.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Surveillance Video Captures Violent Florida Home Invasion

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Home surveillance video captured a violent home invasion in Pembroke Pines, after two robbery suspects entered the house through an unlocked door.

The robbery occurred Aug. 29 at about 4:30 a.m. in a residence on the 12300 block of NW 12th Court, according to the Pembroke Pines Police Department.

Video footage shows a woman sitting on the floor while a man lies sleeping on a sofa near her. As the woman appears to be using her cell phone, two men, one of them armed with a gun, enter the house.

One of the intruders darts across the living room to grab the woman before both disappear from the camera's view. A struggle ensues between the other suspect and the male victim, who is then tied-up on the living room floor, according to the video.

During the robbery, the male victim manages to reach a panel near the front door, possibly triggering an alarm. One of the suspects rushes over and hits him several times before both suspects flee the home.

"Items of value were removed from within the home before both suspects exited the residence and fled in an unknown direction," police said.

The male victim sustained minor injuries and the woman was not injured, police said.

Authorities are searching for the suspects and asked that anyone with information is encouraged to contact police at 954-431-2200 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

East Haven Reaches Agreement With Former Employee Over Complaint

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The town of East Haven has reached an agreement with an employee who accused town officials of retaliating against her for taking family medical leave to care for her injured daughter, according to a statement from the town attorney. 

Former Department of Housing and Urban Renewal secretary Francine Carbone, who worked for the city from Jan. 25, 1997 until Oct. 17, 2014, filed a sexual harassment complaint against the mayor and also filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court alleging town officials “intentionally, wantonly and maliciously” retaliated against her while she was on family medical leave.

East Haven Town Attorney Joseph Zullo released a statement through the mayor’s office Wednesday that said the town’s legal team negotiated the agreement over the federal wage and overtime and state court lawsuits “that threatened to drain the Town’s coffers and rip apart the fiber of our community.” 

Mayor Joseph Maturo previously released a statement about the sexual harassment allegations and described Carbone as "a disgruntled employee who was on the verge of being terminated" and suggested that that might have motivated her first complaint.

The agreement includes remitting $175,000 to Carbone and provides her with medical benefits until she is 65 and “an inexpensive supplement thereafter,” which Zullo wrote she would have received had her employment not ended in 2014. 

“The compromise represents a conclusion to all of Mrs. Carbone’s employment and non-employment claims against the Town and which have been pending since 2015,” the statement from Zullo says. 

In July 2016, a federal court sided with the town.  

"Since Carbone has not established that she suffered an adverse employment action, she has failed to establish a prima facie case of FMLA retaliation. Consequently, her FMLA retaliation claim, which is the only claim in this action, fails," the court decision released in July 2016 said. 

Zullo's statement about the agreement announced Wednesday says, “Although we are confident that we would have prevailed in both the federal wage and overtime case and today’s state court proceedings, absent this morning’s favorable settlement, the Town could have found itself mired in costly, protracted litigation and appeals for years to come as any judgment in favor of the Town and Mayor would have been appealed by Mrs. Carbone.” Zullo’s statement says. 

"Today’s global compromise, which will be memorialized in a formal settlement agreement in the coming days, will contain no admission of liability as to any of Mrs. Carbone’s claims, all of which both the Town and the Mayor vehemently continue to deny,” the statement goes on to say.  



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Storms Bringing Heavy Rain

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Storms are bringing heavy rain, thunder and lightning through parts of Connecticut.

Track the storms on interactive radar.

Showers are possible tonight and early Thursday morning as well.

You can track storms at any time on the NBC Connecticut app.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
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Storms Cause Flash Flooding

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Photo Credit: Waterford Police

I-95 South in Bridgeport Closed After Crash

Hartford Police Sgt. Accused of Drug Use, Stealing in Court

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A Hartford police sergeant accused of using cocaine and alcohol while on the job and stealing equipment from the department appeared in court Wednesday.

Sgt. Justin Torniero, 34, was arrested Tuesday and charged with first- and second-degree larceny. He is a 10-year veteran of the force.

Court documents state that Torniero allegedly used cocaine and alcohol while on duty. 

Torniero was already suspended without pay due to a previous arrest in December. He was accused of using a police vehicle without permission while he was on leave. 

For community leaders, this is another concerning accusation of misconduct for the department.

"There's great concern in our community about the behavior of some of these police officers now, and if you just slap them on the wrist, it dissolves the trust," said Rev. Henry Brown.

Torniero is the latest Hartford officer accused of misconduct. Earlier this year, Sgt. Stephen Barone was caught on camera saying he was "trigger happy." He has since been demoted.

In 2016, Sgt. Sean Spell was arrested after cameras caught him kicking a handcuffed suspect.

Tuesday night, Hartford City Councilor Wildaliz Bermúdez gave her reaction to the latest arrest.

"We need to clean the house here. We need to have a different approach, and it needs to be one that is really reflective of protecting and serving the community," she said.

Sgt. John Szewcyk of the Hartford Police Union responded to those comments.

"We find it very very unfortunate that Councilwoman Bermudez would use this as an opportunity to gain political gain, to create this gap between the community and the department when it doesn't exist," he said.

The Hartford Police Union said the overwhelming majority of officers are hardworking and that a few accusations do not define the group.

Bermúdez said it's about addressing a structural problem with the department. Rev. Brown thinks more action needs to be taken.

"I have a lot of great people working in the Hartford Police Department, but I also know there's some bad people in the police department and instead of giving these people second chances, we need to expel those people," Brown said.

The court left Torniero's bond at $175,000. A few city councilors who spoke with NBC Connecticut said they'd like to speak to the police chief and command staff about how to move forward.



Photo Credit: Hartford Police Department

Bank Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $879K

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A former bank manager pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from his employer, according to the US Attorney’s Office.

Stephen Carbonella, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a bank officer or employee, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.

According to court documents, Carbonella withdrew $879,016.48 from approximately 20 CD accounts at Webster Bank between 2003 and 2017 while working as a bank manager at the Orange branch office. He also tried to conceal the crime by forging signatures and falsifying documents.

Carbonella is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 4, 2018.



Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Political Donation Cost Stamford Woman More Than Expected

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A Stamford retiree learned a hard lesson when she tried to make a political donation.

When Carol Ragsdale is not substitute teaching, she’s spending time on the internet. Two years ago, she donated $15 to the Democratic National Committee in honor of former President Barack Obama’s birthday.

“I can afford that. So, that’s what I did,” Ragsdale said.

Ragsdale said she made a one-time donation with her credit card to a website called ActBlue, a non-profit that builds fundraising software for Democratic campaigns, committees, and organizations. Ragsdale said she received an email from the organization letting her know she had been charged the $15 a month which added up to $375 over the two year period.

“I was really angry,” said Ragsdale.

Ragsdale said she contacted a representative with the Actblue team to complain about the charges and they responded. But she disputed the charge.

“I said this is a mistake,” added Ragsdale.

Ragsdale insisted that she had no intention of making a monthly contribution and told us she glances at her credit card statements periodically and didn’t notice the recurring charges until recently. That’s when she contacted ActBlue who she said that while they would stop future charges, they couldn’t issue a refund beyond 60 days.

“I said wait a minute, you don’t understand what I’m saying. I said you charged me and I want my money back,” said Ragsdale.

When her efforts failed to work, Ragsdale reached out to NBC Connecticut Responds. After we got in touch with Actblue, the company not only canceled future payments, but refunded Ragsdale entire $375 donation.

In a statement, Caleb Cade with ActBlue tells Responds:

"ActBlue prides itself on its commitment to empowering small-dollar donors and ensuring that donating to Democrats and progressive organizations is as smooth and easy as possible. Our customer service team works around the clock to make sure that donors like Ms. Ragsdale have a good experience using our platform and move swiftly to address any issues. We are glad that this issue was resolved quickly and are excited to be helping millions of small-dollar donors make their voices heard this year."

While Ragsdale is pleased with the outcome, she said there’s a lesson learned for her.

“I’ll never do it again,” said Ragsdale. “I’ll pay closer attention to my accounts, my charges.”

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