• Couple Killed Man, Jumped Off George Washington Bridge: Police
• Museum of Islam Planned for Mosque Site Near WTC

Activists, civil rights groups and outraged fans both protested and celebrated outside Staples Center on Tuesday ahead of the Clippers game, after the NBA's historic censure of owner Donald Sterling over racist comments.

The team was playing in Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors just hours after the NBA announced Sterling will be banned from the league for life. Sterling will also be fined $2.5 million, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday.

• Sterling Remains in Seclusion After NBA Lifetime Ban

The sanctions - the most severe in league history - came after an NBA investigation confirmed that Sterling made racist comments in an audio recording first reported by TMZ Sports.

NBA players and coaches, along with fans and celebrities, have expressed their disdain for Sterling’s comments on social media, while others took their voices to the streets. 

"We got exactly what we called for," said Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope on Tuesday. "We demanded that the NBA suspend Donald Sterling. They did that, because in our opinion, Donald Sterling sounded more like a plantation owner than an NBA owner."

• Kevin Johnson: "Zero Tolerance" for Racism in NBA

A coalition of activists and civil rights groups, including the National Hispanic Media Coalition, NAACP, and more than 200 motorcycle and car clubs, had announced their plans to protest Sterling outside Staples Center at 6 p.m., just before the 7:30 p.m. game.

The "Los Angeles Is Better Than Donald Sterling Anti-Racism Protest and Rally" fell on the 22nd anniversary of the 1992 LA Riots.

Despite the NBA’s decision to punish Sterling, the group had said it would still protest as planned to urge him to sell the Clippers.

• Fans, Celebrities Take to Social Media to Respond to Donald Sterling Scandal

"In a city as diverse as Los Angeles, we have no room for a bigoted owner of a beloved team. Don Sterling must go," said Jessica Gonzalez, executive vice president and general council of NHMC.

Outraged fans on the street echoed those sentiments.

"I don't think anyone should show up to the game," said protester Lamaj Samaii. "I don't discredit the players for playing, but I look at it (as) there is an issue with the people who want to continue to show up and pay this man (Sterling) money."

Other fans were also vocal about lending their support to the team.

"We're looking forward to being there tonight to represent and to actually just give them some support and tell them that we love them and we know that everything's going to be all right from here on out," said season ticket holder Phyllis Byrd.

The Clippers released a statement Tuesday saying they "wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver today. Now the healing process begins."

The team updated its Facebook and official website home page with a graphic reading, "We Are One" (shown at right) shortly after the decision was announced.

• Clippers Owner "Banned for Life" From NBA

Tuesday's game marked the team’s first at Staples since the recording surfaced April 25.

"Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life," Clippers President Andy Roeser said after the audio was posted online by TMZ Sports and extended clips by Deadpsin.

The Clippers fell to the Golden State Warriors 118-97 on Sunday, leaving the series tied 2-2.

NBC4's Toni Guinyard and Lolita Lopez contributed to this report.

CL&P and UConn have teamed up to come up with a new tool to predict where power outages could occur.

"If you told us at the beginning it was going to be eleven days without power, I think we would have left town," said Simsbury resident Peter Tedone.

Peter and his wife Lydia along with hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents found themselves in the dark for days after the 2011 Halloween nor'easter. Trees crashed down onto power lines in Simsbury, a familiar sight throughout the state.

"You had absolutely no power. You had no refrigeration, no electricity," said Lydia.

Now a new tool developed by UConn in partnership with CL&P is giving residents hope by giving the utility company an edge before a storm hits. It's called the Damage Prediction Model.

"Will it improve response? Yes," said Mike Zappone, Manager of Resource Acquisition for Northeast Utilities.

"For the State of Connecticut this means we're finally able to have a tool to help predict power outages before a major storm," said UConn Research Assistant Dave Wanik who helped develop the model.

CL&P says it will help them better prepare by scaling resources accordingly and when pre-staging crews.

Wanik says while it remains a work in progress it's a game changer for the industry.

"The end game is to allow CL&P to be able to predict where and when and how much damage they can expect," said Zappone.

And that would give people like the Tedones some peace of mind.

"We worry. We wonder if we're going to lose power every time there is a storm." said Lydia. "It is welcome news to those of us who have lived through it."

 

Clippers owner Donald Sterling has yet to emerge from seclusion since the announcement of his lifetime ban from the team and the NBA.

Since the scandal over racist comments broke last week, Sterling has been glimpsed only briefly leaving a restaurant Sunday night.  He is the subject of the most severe sanction in league history after an NBA investigation determined he was the one making derogatory remarks in an audio recordings published on two websites.

• Sterling Firestorm: Coverage of Clippers Owner Controversy

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a lifetime ban on involvement with the NBA and slapped the billionaire with a $2.5 million fine during a Tuesday press conference. He said the league plans to "force a sale" of the team -- a process that he said will start immediately.

The NBA's investigation included an interview with Sterling, during which it was determined that the voice on the recording is that of the 80-year-old Clippers owner, Silver said. Asked whether Sterling had expressed remorse, Silver said, “Mr. Sterling has not expressed those views directly to me.”

Sterling has not offered a response or made any public appearances since the announcement.

A brief statement issued by the Clippers made no effort to defend him: "We wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver today. Now the healing process begins."

The Clippers statement offered no details how the healing process would work or what role Sterling would play in it.

• Timeline: Donald Sterling's Clippers Ownership

Sterling's whereabouts remain unknown.

As is customary, the front door of his home base Sterling Plaza building in Beverly Hills remained locked. Signage out front announces four Sterling enterprises: his law office, Sterling Properties, the Clippers, and the Sterling Foundation. Looking through the glass doors during the afternoon revealed two security guards. Neither would open the door and no one responded to the building's intercom system.

For legal advice, Sterling has long relied on Robert Platt, a partner in the prominent Manatt Phelps law firm. Responding to a phone call, Platt's assistant said he was out of the office.

• Twitter Celebrates Donald Sterling's Lifetime Ban

The scandal emerged from recordings of statements made by a man confirmed by the NBA to be Sterling to a woman who has been reported to be his then-girlfriend, V. Stiviano.

Stiviano had been sued by Sterling's wife Rochelle in an attempt to recover a Ferrari, a duplex, and other gifts Sterling allegedly lavished on Stiviano.

During the recordings now made public, Sterling chides Stiviano for posting an Instagram photo of herself with Magic Johnson, and goes on to tell her she should not associate in public with members of minority groups.

Stiviano's attorney says his client was not responsible for releasing the tape, which he said were recorded legally in the presence of a "third party." He denied reports that his client was the billionaire's mistress, saying she was acting as his archivist. The attorney said in a statement released Tuesday that Stiviano is "very saddened" by the ban and "didn’t want any harm to come to Donald."

A call for comment to Rochelle Sterling's attorney, Laura Wasser, also went unreturned.

The mother of a man shot and killed by Los Angeles sheriff's deputies announced on Tuesday a $25 million claim against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department she said she hopes will help the family find closure.

John Winkler, 30, was shot and killed when deputies responded to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon in West Hollywood April 7.

An investigation revealed that Winkler, an aspiring producer working on Comedy Central’s "Tosh.0," was one of three men being held hostage by another man with a knife, authorities said.

Winkler's mother, Lisa Ostergren, spoke in Seattle Tuesday to announce how the family hopes to move forward with the lawsuit against the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.

• LA Sheriff's Deputies Admit They Killed Innocent Man

"Our family wants to find the truth of what happened that night," Ostergren said through tears. "The officers need to be accountable for their actions and what they've done, so no other family has to live through this."

Ostergren joined the family's attorney, Simeon Osborn, to announce the claim, a precursor to the lawsuit, against the LASD in Winkler's death.

• Clippers Owner "Banned for Life" From NBA

"The lawsuit is about truth and accountability," Osborn said. "This was a preventable act that robbed a young man of his dreams."

Those dreams were to be a television producer, his mother explained.

"He was living up here and he made the choice at 30 that that was his ultimate dream, so he packed up he moved down (to Los Angeles)," Ostergren said. "He said, 'Mom, I'm going to take whatever job I can get, I'm going to work hard and pursue whatever I want to do.'"

When Winkler landed temporary production work with "Tosh.0," it was an accomplishment for the whole family, she said.

"He was so excited he called everybody at home," Ostergren said. "His thing was, 'Mom, I'm going to work so hard so when a producer position comes up, they're going to give it to me."

• Download the FREE NBCLA News App

Representatives from the Comedy Central show have sent cards and condolences to the family since Winkler's death, she said.

The family left the room when Osborn was asked about the night of the shooting.

He described Winkler rushing out of an apartment where a stabbing suspect was holding people hostage.

Winkler was trying to help someone who had just been stabbed when he was shot, Osborn said.

"John grabs (the victim) because he sees him bleeding and gets him out the door. Police are in the lobby," he said. "John puts his hand on (the victim) to stop the bleeding, the door opens, and boom."

A sheriff’s department spokesman said an internal investigation was launched into the shooting.

Alexander McDonald, 27, allegedly stabbed and fought the hostages until deputies arrived, officials said. He has been charged in connection with murder.

V. Stiviano, the woman whom Donald Sterling was talking to when he made racist remarks, is "very saddened" by his lifetime NBA ban, and she didn't release the recording of their conversation, her lawyer said Tuesday.

Mac Nehoray in a statement released to NBC4 that his client "didn’t want any harm to come to Donald.

"She’s very saddened that NBA did what they did," Nehoray said in the statement. "No matter what, she and Donald were close for three years, and she feels very sad for him."

He said that a "third party" was present when the audio recordings were made made last September. He would not identify that person, saying that person wants to stay anonymous.

• NBA Bans Donald Sterling for Life Over Racist Remarks

"But it is important to know these tapes weren’t made illegally," he said. “My client is very articulate, she’s very smart, she even used to work with the DA’s office. It wasn’t her fault that the tapes got out. She never wanted that. She is a private person. She just wants to be left alone, and thinks she has been treated very unfairly by the media.”

• Full Coverage: Clippers Controversy

Recordings of Sterling telling girlfriend V. Stiviano he didn't appreciate her publicly associating with blacks or bringing them to Clippers games have surfaced amid a lawsuit in which Sterling's wife is demanding Stiviano turn over several fancy cars and a duplex the billionaire gave her.

The NBA has said that its investigation confirmed that it was Sterling who made the comments on the recording.

• Download the FREE NBCLA News app

Stiviano's lawyer also said that his client was never Sterling's mistress, only his archivist.

Stiviano was seen Tuesday roller skating with a visor on outside her home. When asked why she came outside given all the media attention, she said, "I started skating when I was two."

Police are looking for the people who robbed a Seymour movie theater at gunpoint, tied and bound a maintenance worker and locked him in a closet.

It happened just after midnight Thursday, April 24 when three masked men walked into Entertainment Cinemas in the Tri-Town Plaza at 814 Derby Avenue in Seymour, according to police.

Police said the men “ambushed an overnight maintenance work at gunpoint” and tied his hands behind his back before stealing his person items and locking him in a closet.

The suspects then headed to the manager’s office, which they “ransacked and destroyed,” then broke into the safe and stole an unknown amount of cash, according to police.

Police said the maintenance worker managed to escape from the closet and ran to nearby business to get help. Workers there untied his hands and called 911. Police said the victim was not injured and did not need medical treatment.

One of the suspects is described as a heavyset Hispanic man standing about 6 feet 2 inches tall. Police said he was wearing a beige coat and winter hat. The two others are also believe to be Hispanic. All three men are bilingual, according to police.

Police are investigating to determine whether the robbery is connected to a similar incident that happened Wednesday night in Shelton.

Anyone who was at the Tri-Town Plaza at the time of the robbery is urged to contact the Seymour Police Detective Division by calling 203-881-7624 or 203-881-7638 or emailing tips@seymourpolice.org.

Officials in Hartford want to know what you think about the city's budget and there is a meeting tonight.

There has been some concern in the community about some cuts Mayor Pedro Segarra has proposed.

He has recommended cutting 53 jobs from the police department, including getting rid of the incoming police class this summer, as well as vacant positions from retirement and attrition.

Segarra said public safety will not be compromised.

“We’ve been in communication with the chief and I think that he is onboard in terms of trying to manage his resources in his department in a way that does not impact public safety,” Segarra told NBC Connecticut earlier this month. 

A special hearing on the budget will be held at Bulkeley High School.

The mayor, city council members and other local officials will attend.

The high school is located at 300 Wethersfield Avenue and the meeting will be in the auditorium. It starts at 6 p.m.

To speak during the meeting, sign up when you arrive.
 

The developer who once proposed a mosque and Muslim community center near ground zero now plans a museum devoted to Islam at the same site.

Sharif El-Gamal said in a statement he wants to build a three-story museum "dedicated to exploring the faith of Islam and its arts and culture."

He said he commissioned French architect Jean Nouvel to design a 5,000-square-foot museum. The building also would include a sanctuary for prayer services and community programs.

It's unclear how El-Gamal would fund the project.

Spokesman Hank Sheinkopf would only say that El-Gamal would initially finance it himself and hoped to find other benefactors.

No timetable was given.

Buildings at 45 Park Place and 51 Park Place, two blocks from the World Trade Center site, would need to be demolished first.

A 5-foot-long chunk of airplane debris that is believed to be a piece of landing gear from one of the planes that hit the twin towers was found in an alley behind 51 Park Place a year ago.

The NYPD said at the time the landing gear was found after surveyors hired by the property owner inspecting the rear of 51 Park Place called police on Wednesday. 

When plans for the Islamic center at 51 Park Place were made public in 2010, opponents said they didn't want a mosque so close to where Islamic extremists attacked. They argued the site was "sacred" because landing gear from one of the hijacked Boeing 767 jets had punctured the roof of the building on Sept. 11.

During street protests, they clashed with supporters of the center, who said it would promote harmony between Muslims and followers of other faiths.

The five-story building, which was once a Burlington Coat factory, now includes a Muslim prayer space that has been open for three years. 

El-Gamal's statement says daily Islamic prayer services would temporarily move while construction was under way, and then would resume at the museum when it is completed.

A car and a school bus have been involved in a crash on Interstate 91 North near exit 23 in Rocky Hill.

A few children are on the bus, according to state police.

No injuries are reported, but a few ambulances responded to evaluate the children as a precaution.

It appears that the car hit the bus.

An NBC Connecticut crew is heading to the scene.

More information will be posted once it becomes available.

Firefighters are responding to 3 Westbrook Road. in West Hartford.

It started in the basement around at 10:17 a.m. and was under control by 10:37 a.m.

The people who were in the house were able to get out safely.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The state has denied a New Haven’s bar’s request to renew its liquor permit after several problems.

The state Department of Consumer Protection issued its decision on Tuesday to deny a liquor permit renewal for Lazy Lizard Café and released a statement on Wednesday.

During an administrative hearing before the Liquor Control Commission on March 27, New Haven residents and the police department objected to renewing the permit because of violations, including violence at the bar.

New Haven Police Chief Dean Esserman objected in writing to renewing the permit and mentioned a shooting on May 18, 2013 that stemmed from a dispute inside the café, according to the Department of Consumer Protection.

Assistant Chief Casanova testified about the “huge brawl” inside the café before the shooting outside.

Maria Delmonaco, one of the owners of Lazy Lizard Café, also testifies, along with  New Haven Police Sergeant Tammy Means and Assistant Police Chief Luiz Casanova.

“We will not tolerate establishments that turn a blind eye to the safety of their patrons,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement.  “If violence becomes a problem, the owners have a responsibility to take the necessary steps to ensure that the proper security is in place..”

 

The NBA's swift and decisive response to racist comments that a league investigation determined were made by LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling set off what might become a slow-moving process with several potential obstacles.

A day after, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mapped out his plan – a lifetime ban from the NBA and a $2.5-million fine – to deal with the NBA's longest-tenured owner, the league announced its first meeting on Sterling's removal will be Thursday. The 10-member advisory/finance committee will focus on the next steps in the removal procedure, guided by the league's 92-page Constitution and Bylaws.

The committee is chaired by Minnesota owner Glen Taylor. It members include Miami's Micky Arison, the Lakers' Jeanie Buss, Oklahoma City's Clay Bennett, New York's James Dolan, Boston's Wyc Grousbeck, San Antonio's Peter Holt, Phoenix's Robert Sarver, Indiana's Herb Simon, and Toronto's Larry Tanenbaum. The process will eventually require a vote from the league's 29 other owners on whether to force a sale of one of the league's most promising franchises.

Silver said he is certain he has the three-fourths majority required from owners to force the sale, but that he is not sure how Sterling plans to respond – a legal fight over removal is possible. It remains unclear when the owners' vote will happen, but the league's Board of Governors can call a special meeting before its scheduled meeting in July.

• Sterling Firestorm: Key Players, Timeline

The team's future ownership is likely to remain in question for as long as the Clippers survive in the playoffs.

"I told the players about the decision, and I think they were just happy there was a resolution and that it's over, at least the start of it," first-year coach Doc Rivers said. "I think we're all in a better place because of this."

Many owners issued statements of support for Silver after the announcement. No owners publicly defended Sterling, who admitted that the voice on a recorded conversation with companion V. Stiviano was his, Silver said. The man identified by the NBA as Sterling – who bought the Clippers in 1981 and became the longest-tenured owner in the NBA after the death of the Lakers' Jerry Buss in 2013 – criticizes Stiviano for posting pictures of herself with Lakers great Magic Johnson and Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.

The comments, released by TMZ on Saturday before Deadspin posted a longer version, harmed the league and warranted Sterling's termination, Silver said. Sponsors were threatening to abandon the NBA and steady criticism was coming from current and former players, civil rights leaders, politicians and others.

Sterling will not be allowed to attend NBA games or practices, according to Silver's decision. He cannot visit the team's office or facility and is banned from "any business or player personnel decisions involving the team."

• Read: V. Stiviano "Saddened" by Ban

The NBA's Procedure for Termination

The removal of an owner is addressed in Section 14 of the league's constitution and bylaws -- a document that details the procedure for termination and other league rules. The process begins with a charge filed against the owner, who then has five days to respond after receiving notification.

Failure of an owner to respond to the charge is "deemed an admission... of the total validity of the charges as presented," according to the NBA constitution.

The NBA commissioner can then call a special meeting of the Board of Governors to hear the charges. That meeting is "to be held on a date not more than ten (10) days after the filing of a Member’s or Owner’s answer."

The Board of Governors can then vote on the charges. If the required number of owners vote for Sterling's termination, ownership would be transferred to the league. Once existing debts are paid, the team would then likely be sold.

• Read: Doc River's Applauds Ruling

The ownership removal process played out under much different circumstances when the league bought the financially struggling Hornets from then-owner George Shinn. The franchise was sold less than one year later.

The commissioner indicated the ban applied only to Sterling and that there had been no discussions about whether he could sell to a family member. Sterling's estranged wife, Rochelle, has been closely involved with the franchise for years and she was surrounded by six bodyguards at Tuesday night's playoff game against the Golden State Warriors.

The team has struggled in the shadow of the Lakers for decades, but has climbed from incompetence to Western Conference contender with the addition of young stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, and the hiring of coach Rivers, who called Silver's decision the start of a healing process.

If all had gone according to plan, renovations on a storm-damaged East Haven home would have been finished in time for the owners to move back in this July.

But there was another devastating setback this morning when fire broke out, gutting much of the inside of the two-story house on Beach Avenue.

The area was hit hard by Hurricane Irene, then Super Storm Sandy. Like many residents, the owners of this house started rebuilding. This morning, they were too upset to speak on camera.

"(They are) very upset of course. You know, they’re pouring their heart into the rehabilitation here," Doug Jackson, chief of the East Haven Fire Department, said.

Both floors were damaged and Jackson said the fire melted the wiring and insulation.

The owners do plan to rebuild again and home  to move back in this fall.

The cause of the fire is unknown.
 

Police seized more than two dozen animals, including dogs, rabbits and chickens, from a home in Torrington after going to check on a resident on Monday.

Police said they went to a home on Hayden Hill Road around 6 p.m. after someone contacted authorities to report that a person might need medical attention.

When officers arrived, they noticed an unpleasant smell and found several animals in the home, so called the City Animal Control Officer, who determined that the environment was unfit for the animals.

Authorities seized two dogs, one cat and 19 rabbits. They also removed four chickens from a coop in the yard.

The animals, which did not appear to be malnourished, were transported to the animal control facility on Bogue Road, where a veterinarian will check them.

Police have made no arrests. They continue to investigate.

An FBI investigation into an alleged racial slur heard over the New Haven police radio channel has determined that the slur was not made using a department radio and that police are not responsible for the transmission, according to a release from the New Haven Police Department.

The four-month investigation was launched after the N-word was reportedly heard over the New Haven police department frequency on Dec. 30, 2013.

According to the FBI, New Haven Police Department radios are “incapable of producing the identification signal that was detected” in the racially charged transmission, the release says.

African American police officers working in New Haven called a meeting at New Haven City Hall in February to address a series of racially discriminatory incidents they say happened within the department, including the radio transmission.
 

An East Hartford woman has been arrested on sexual assault charges, as well as others that involve a child being involved in “obscene performances.”

Elisa Ortega, 43, of East Hartford, was arrested on Tuesday. Police said the warrant is sealed and they would not be releasing additional information.

Ortega was charged with three counts of employing a minor in an obscene performance, conspiracy to commit employing minor for obscene performance, three counts of first-degree sexual assault, first-degree conspiracy to commit sexual assault, nine counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, 12 counts of risk of injury by sexual contact, three counts of risk of injury by impairing morals, risk of injury, conspiracy to commit risk of injury by sexual contact and conspiracy to commit injury by impairing morals.

She was held on a court-set bond of $200,000 and will appear in court in New Britain today.

No additional information was available.
 

Heisman Trophy winning Florida State University quarterback Jameis Winston was cited for allegedly shoplifting snow crab legs from a Publix supermarket in Tallahassee, authorities said.

The red-shirt sophomore was issued a civil citation, the Leon County Sheriff's Office said.

"He told the deputies that he did not pay for the itesm, he forgot," said Major Michael Wood of the Lee County Sheriff's Office. "I do not have a crystal ball. I can tell you that he did exit the store and the items were not paid for. He was issued a civil citation and he has indicated that he has every intention of fulfilling his obligation for the community service hours."

Winston, who is also a pitcher for the Seminoles baseball team, was suspended from that team indefinitely, FSU's athletic department said in a statement.

"As a result of his citation last night, we are suspending Jameis Winston from the baseball team. I am confident he will complete his community service obligation and the situation will be resolved soon," the statement read.

Winston released a statement (pictured below) Wednesday afternoon that read: "As reported in the news, last night I received an adult civil citation for petit theft from a local supermarket. I went to the supermarket with the intent to purchase dinner but made a terrible mistake for which I'm taking full responsibility. In a moment of youthful ignorance, I walked out of the store without paying for one of my items.

I realize that I am in the public spotlight and my conduct needs to be above reproach. Over the last year I've learned that my accomplishments on the fields can be a wonderful thing for my school, teammates, friends, and family. At the same time, I must realize that my mistakes are magnified and can bring great embarassment to all those who support me every day. I make no excuses for my actions and will learn and grow from this unfortunate situation. I hope and pray my friends and family will view me as the 20 year old young man that I am, and support me through this unfortunate situation.

I am grateful to be able to participate in the adult citation program where I will complete community service."

Winston led the Seminoles to the BCS Championship Title in January with a 34-31 win over Auburn.

Winston had been investigated in November 2013 for a year-old sexual assault complaint, but no charges were filed and the case was closed.

A Manchester elementary school teacher is on administrative leave after police reportedly found a marijuana growing operation, methamphetamine and other drugs at her Pine Street apartment.

Kirsten Dergosits, 45, and her husband, Robert Dergosits, 41, were arrested April 23 after police searched their apartment and found marijuana plants, growing equipment, methamphetamine and cash, according to the Manchester Police Department.

Manchester school officials confirmed that Dergosits works at Robertson Elementary School. A school directory lists her as a third-grade teacher.

According to the superintendent’s office, Dergosits was placed on administrative leave as soon as the school system found out about her arrest.

Manchester police said the East Central Narcotics Taskforce searched the Dergosits' home at Ribbon Mill Apartments at 150 Pine Street last Thursday.

Investigators reportedly found about 3.5 lbs. of marijuana with a street value of about $12,000, packaging material and drug paraphernalia, growing equipment, nine marijuana plants and 13 seedlings, about 22 grams of methamphetamine or MDMA and $4,306 in cash, police said.

Police seized those items, along with a television, cellphones and a computer, as evidence.

Kirsten and Robert Dergosits were both charged with a string of drug offenses, including possession and cultivation of marijuana, operating a drug factory, possession with intent to sell, possession of drugs within 1500 feet of a school and possession of cocaine and heroin.

Their bonds were set at $150,000 each.

A memorial fund has been set up to help support the family of Maren Sanchez and to honor her memory.

The 16-year-old honor student at Jonathan Law High School was killed in a stabbing at school on Friday. It was just hours before she was supposed to go to her junior prom.

Donations can be made to: 
The Maren Sanchez Memorial Trust 
Victoria J. Koch, Esq. Trustee 
325 Reef Road, Suite 200 
Fairfield, CT 06824 

You can also make donations online at www.marensanchezmemorialfund.com.   

The wake for Sanchez will be held on Thursday, May 1, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cody-White Funeral Home, located at 107 North Broad St, Milford, CT 06460.

In honor of the family’s wishes, students should not wear prom attire to the wake.

There will be no funeral service and burial will be private.

Rather than flowers, the family asks anyone who wants to make a donation to donate to the Maren Sanchez Memorial Trust.

Police have arrested a 16-year-old classmate and charged him as an adult with murder.