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

Bridgeport Police Investigate Attempted Abduction

0
0

Bridgeport police are investigating after a man attempted to abduct a 17-year-old girl.

Police say the 17-year-old was on Taft Avenue between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. when she was approached by a driver who tried to get her into his car. The teen was able to escape unharmed.

The vehicle is described as a four door sedan with dark tints and a license plate ending in PBZ.

More information about the incident was not available. Anyone with information should contact Bridgeport police at (203) 581-5201.

 

 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Woman Accused in Fatal Road Rage

0
0

A woman was under arrest Friday, accused of murder for striking and running over a motorcyclist on a busy San Diego highway at rush hour.

Imperial Beach resident Darla Renee Jackson, 26, was driving a black Nissan Altima northbound on Interstate 5 near E Street in Chula Vista at around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers say Jackson and a man on a red Ducati motorcycle got into some type of disagreement.

After the two drivers transitioned from I-5 to eastbound State Route 54 and passed National City Boulevard, Jackson hit the Ducati from behind and ran over the rider, CHP officers say.

The motorcyclist — identified by friends as 39-year-old Zachary Buob — died about an hour later at a hospital. A Santee resident, Buob was an active duty chief petty officer in the Navy's special operations.

Jackson was arrested and now faces one count of murder in what officers are calling a road rage incident. She was booked into Las Colinas Detention and Re-entry Facility and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

The crash caused a Sig Alert for more than two-and-a-half along SR-54 in the middle of a very busy evening commute. Investigators are in the process of tracking down drivers who may have witnessed the act of road rage from start to finish.

Anyone who may have seen anything involving these two vehicles should contact the CHP investigator at (619) 220-5492.

Describing the victim, friend Kathryn Cramer said Buob served in the military for more than 20 years and completed many tours overseas.

"He was so strong but his heart was so sweet," she said in an email. "He was truly one of the 'good guys' and my heart is broken. My prayers are with his Mom and Dad and family. He loved them so much."

Another good friend, Tim James, told NBC 7 Buob worked as an elite special boat operator, but motorcycles and trucks were his passion — only overshadowed by his love for family and friends.

"Zach was energetic, intelligent and a superb leader. He would light up any room he entered with his friendliness and wittiness...a heart of gold," said James in an email.

CHP Officer Jake Sanchez warned drivers Friday to not let road rage ever escalate to such a deadly point. He warned drivers not to pick fights with others on the roadway because you don't know what that person may be going through or if that person could be capable of something like this.


This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.

Subpoenas on Federal Funds for Election Mailer

0
0

The State Elections Enforcement Commission has issued subpoenas to the Democratic State Central Committee as it investigates the committee using money from a federal fund to pay for a mailer benefiting Gov. Dannel Malloy’s re-election race.

The subpoenas, obtained by the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters, request any documents and communications dating back to Jan. 1, 2013 relating to how and/or why any of the DSCC’s federal bank accounts were segregated, all “electioneering or get-out-the-vote communications featuring the Governor” paid from the federal bank account, copies of any and all solicitations for contributions to the federal account, all documents and communications that identify the solicitors of contributions over $1,000 received by the DSCC for the federal account, including those solicited by the Governor.

The Democratic State Central Committee said the mailers were a get-out-the-vote effort, while state Republicans argue they were designed to help with the governor’s re-election campaign.

The subpoena asks for any documents or communications related to meetings held by former Democratic Party Director Jonathan Harris with either Governor Malloy, his campaign manager Jonathan Blair, Malloy chief-of-staff Mark Ojakian and former advisor Roy Occhiogrosso, as well as any polls conducted during the 2014 election for Connecticut Governor paid by the state committee.

The subpoenas, made out to the DSCC’s Keeper of Records, set a hearing for June 12 at 2 p.m. at the SEEC’s Hartford offices.

The investigation began following a complaint by Republican State Party Chair Jerry Labriola in March 2014.

"Governor Malloy and the Connecticut Democrats made a mess of campaign finance regulations and now they find themselves caught in a tangled web with the subpoenas issued today.  We will continue to monitor our complaint and we have trust in the process. It is essential that everyone plays by the same rules and integrity is maintained in our electoral system," Labriola said in a statement.

He called the use of the funds a blatant attempt to circumvent state laws. The State GOP filed a lawsuit against Malloy last October. A judge threw out the lawsuit, citing the pending SEEC investigation as one of the reasons.

Both the SEEC and Common Cause of Connecticut objected to the use of money from the federal account last year.

At the time, SEEC officials accused the Democrats of trying to circumvent the state's campaign financing law, passed in the wake of the Rowland corruption scandal.

The Clean Elections program sets aside a limited amount of money to spend on statewide and legislative races, removing donations from specials interest groups, state contractors and lobbyists.

Candidates qualify by accepting donations of no more than $100. The federal election account allows contributions from state contractors.

NBC Connecticut reached out to Gov. Malloy's office for comment and they referred us to the state central committee.

The Democratic State Central Committee insists the mailers are legal and that their attorneys said well before Election Day that they must use federal funds for get out the vote mailers.

The state central committee added that it has tried to get an opinion from the state elections enforcement commission, which has refused.

The subpoenas the state elections enforcement commission served on the Democratic State Central Committee came a day after the committee asked a judge to intervene and force the state elections enforcement commission to rule on the legality of the mailers.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Moose Spotted in Bloomfield

0
0

A moose is on the loose in Bloomfield and police are urging drivers to be careful.

A moose has been spotted in the area of Park and Blue Hills avenues, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which received several calls from several residents who reported seeing the moose cross their yards.

Moose near roadways pose a particular danger because they are more likely to collapse through a vehicle windshield when they are hit because of their height, according to DEEP.

They are also difficult to see when driving at night because of their dark color.

If you are involved in a collision with a moose or deer, report it to local or state officials. You can also report it to DEEP Environmental Conservation Police Officers at 860-424-3333.

Residents across the state are also urged to report moose sightings on the DEEP Web site.

Estimates put the moose population in Connecticut between 100 and 150 animals. Most are in the northeastern and northwestern wooded corners of Connecticut, but they have also been seen in most other parts of the state.

If you saw the moose, send a photo to shareit@nbcconnecticut.com



Photo Credit: Berwick Police

Priest Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Woman

0
0

A Catholic priest was found guilty Friday in federal court of sexually assaulting a woman aboard a flight from Philadelphia to LAX.

A federal jury found Father Marcelo De Jesumaria, who is based out of Arrowhead, California, guilty of abusive sexual contact on the US Airways flight to Los Angeles last August.

The FBI told the NBC4 I-Team that a female passenger, identified in legal documents only as "BD," woke up during the flight to find the priest’s "hands on her breast, groin, and buttocks."

De Jesumaria had previously served in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino, but was removed from the ministry in November when the allegations against him surfaced, the diocese said in an emailed statement. He is a member of the Chicago-based Congregation of the Resurrection, which will determine his future in the priesthood, the statement said.

Last year, the NBC4 I-Team exposed the growing problem of sexual assaults reported aboard airplanes. The FBI told NBC4 that most of the assaults happen on red-eye flights when the cabin is dark and the victims are asleep or dozing off.

The FBI urges anyone who is assaulted aboard a plane to immediately report it to the flight crew while still in the air.

"Criminal activity aboard an aircraft that is reported several days or weeks after an incident occurs presents greater challenges for investigators," said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.

In the US Airways incident, FBI agents met De Jesumaria at the gate, when the plane landed last August. They gathered enough evidence to indict him in October.

Friday, after a three-day trial in federal court, a jury found De Jesumaria guilty of abusive sexual contact, which is defined as "the intentional touching… of the groin, breast, inner thigh or buttocks of any person with the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade and arouse."

De Jesumaria will be sentenced Aug. 24. He faces a two-year statutory maximum sentence.

NBC4 asked the Diocese of San Bernardino for comment and they emailed this statement:

"The Diocese of San Bernardino considers the actions alleged of Father De Jesumaria in the federal indictment to be sinful and unlawful. We removed him from ministry in the diocese immediately after we became aware of this allegation in November and we are deeply regretful of any harm that may have occurred as a result of his actions. He belongs to a Chicago-based religious order, the Congregation of the Resurrection, that will determine the future of his priesthood."

Hastert Resigns From College Board

0
0

Former U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has resigned from the board of the Christian school's public policy and government center that bears his name, a Wheaton College spokesperson said.

The resignation was the latest fallout from a federal indictment accusing Hastert of violating banking laws. The indictment alleges Hastert was paying hush money to keep someone silent about "prior misconduct."

A federal law enforcement official on Friday afternoon told NBC News the misconduct involved an alleged sexual relationship between Hastert and a former male student at the school.

Wheaton College is home to the J. Dennis Hastert Center for Economics, Government and Public Policy. The center was established in 2007, when Hastert stepped down from Congress after eight years as speaker.

A college spokewoman told the Chicago Tribune that no decisions had been made Friday about possible changes to the center's name or programming.

Hastert's name was removed Thursday from the Washington, D.C. lobbying and law firm where he worked, and a spokesperson there said Hastert had resigned.



Photo Credit: NBC Chicago

Crash on I-395 in Waterford

0
0

There was a motor vehicle crash on Interstate 395 northbound in Waterford early Saturday morning.

The crash happened between exits 77 and 79.

There is no word on injuries, but state police said that no accident reconstruction team was required at the scene.

The left lane was closed earlier in the morning, but traffic was able to get by on the right.

No further information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Mores Rain Floods North Texas

0
0

Rain moved across North Texas once again on Saturday morning flooding roads and adding to the already rising lake and creek levels.

For the second day in a row, flash flood warnings were activated for many of the bigger counties including Dallas, Tarrant, Denton and Collin.

From Dallas to Lewisville, Denton and beyond, police departments, cities and residents reported high water and road closures.

People who live along Singleton Boulevard in West Dallas are watching the weather very closely after Dallas Police officers drove through the neighborhood on Friday night urging residents to evacuate.

Some waited until Saturday morning.

"We knew it was going to flood since we stayed in front of the little river so we just left," said Juanita Hernandez.

Garland, one of the hardest hit areas, has seen 9 inches of rain fall in the last two days.

And in Dallas about 6 inches fell as of Saturday morning. The rain is not a welcomed sight for many in Dallas County after flooding blocked Loop 12 under Interstate 30 overpass on Friday. That area is expected to be closed well into next week.

In Lewisvlle John Beachman who has lived by Timber Creek since 2001 said 8 feet of his property is now under water.  

President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration amid the severe weather, offering federal funding to affected people in Harris, Hays and Van Zandt counties, the White House said in a statement early Saturday. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had earlier requested a presidential disaster declaration to get federal help for affected counties.

Two Dead in North Texas Flooding

Two North Texas deaths have been blamed on the flooding. 

Mesquite Fire Department Capt. Kelly Turner said a man's body was found early Friday morning after his truck had been swept into a culvert and submerged.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office identified the flood victim as 47-year-old John Jeffrey Usfrey.

Turner said people stranded on two cars that were also swept off the road told responders about the truck. He said the truck had been underwater for some time before they found it, and that authorities believe the man, whose name has not been released, was alone in the vehicle.

In Dallas, police said Friday afternoon the body of a man was found near California Crossing and Northwest Highway as flood waters receded. Police did not release the man's identity, but did say he was not found in a vehicle.

Recent storms are being blamed for killing seven people in Oklahoma and at least 23 in Texas, where 13 remain missing or unaccounted for. 

Dallas County

Flooding has blocked a busy highway west of Downtown Dallas, causing major traffic delays in both directions.

Overnight rain caused water to pool on Loop 12, under the Interstate 30 overpass Friday morning, trapping commuters for several hours. Some of the drivers said they had been there since 5 or 6 a.m.

Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Hartzel said a crane was brought in after 11 a.m. to remove a section of median so that motorists trapped in the southbound lanes could get off the roadway. The northbound lane had already been cleared.

He said the southbound lanes were more challenging because streets where people could have exited were flooded as well. He said they think that the area where the road usually drains to flooded as well, so there was nowhere for the water to go.

 

On Friday an NBC 5 photographer captured video of a driver maneuvering around a police cruiser beneath an overpass on Northwest Highway early Friday and heading directly into high water.

Rescue crews used a raft to help that driver to safety after the SUV gave way to the water.

"We have a sincere plea with our drivers. If you see a barricade or a sign, please do not try to drive through that area," said Sana Syed, City of Dallas spokesperson.

Tarik Hawkins told NBC News he was became stranded while trying to drive to work. He said it took him two hours to drive about a mile and described the situation on the road as "very chaotic."

"Right off I-35, there has to be 50 or 60 cars stranded," he said.



Photo Credit: Casey Brezovsky
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.

Motorcycle Fractures Skull in Crash

0
0

An emergency helicopter and state police responded to a motorcycle crash on Route 6 in Brooklyn, Connecticut Saturday morning.

The motorcyclist's skull was fractured when he crashed on Route 6 at Windham Road, state police said. . He was not wearing a helmet at the time.

State police confirmed that a helicopter from a Massachusetts hospital responded and that he was taken to Hartford Hospital to be treated for serious injuries. The motorcyclist, whose name hasn't been released, is in stable condition.

There was a fatal crash involving a car and dump truck on Route 6 in Brooklyn earlier Saturday morning, but the two accidents are unrelated.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Weekend Forecast

0
0

Low clouds and fog Saturday will burn off in most spots, except in southeastern Connecticut where the clouds may linger all day long.

Clouds will once again increase for all during the course of the day, with breezy and warm conditions. Temperatures will rise into the middle-80s inland, but stay in the 70s at the shoreline.

A cold front comes through on Sunday. Clouds will hang tough all day long and on-and-off showers will make for a damp end to the weekend. The heaviest of the showers will be in the p.m. hours.

The front stalls to the south of the region on Monday and Tuesday, but not far enough away to make for nice weather. Monday looks cloudy and very cool, with a chance for rain.

Temperatures will barely crack the low 60s.

Tuesday, a little sun is possible, but the chance for showers remains in the forecast. Total rainfall from the period Sunday through Tuesday could be over an inch, so it will help the rainfall deficit that currently exists across the region. Also, pollen levels will finally be reduced, at least for a time.

Wednesday and Thursday will be downright gorgeous, with temperatures in the 70s and tons of sunshine. Dew points will be in the 40s and 50s, meaning there won’t be any humidity whatsoever!

By late week, temperatures make a return to the 80s as dry weather sticks around.

Stay with the NBC Connecticut First Alert weather team for the very latest forecast on-air, online and on the app.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Police Seek Hit-and-Run Driver Who Hit Pedestrian

0
0

Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who struck and injured a pedestrian in Old Saybrook after midnight on Saturday.

When police arrived at the accident site on Ferry Road at 12:27 a.m. Saturday, they found an injured adult male in the road. The car that struck the man had fled the scene and police are looking for the driver.

An ambulance took the man to Yale-New Haven Hospital and he is listed in stable condition. The nature of his injuries are unknown.

Old Saybrook police ask anyone with information to contact the department at 860-395-3142.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Crews Extinguish Fire in Meriden

0
0

Firefighters put out a garage fire on Virginia Drive in Meriden Saturday afternoon.

The fire broke out in the garage at 100 Virginia Drive.

No one was injured.

The fire is out and the scene is under control.

Record Rain Floods North Texas

0
0

Forecasters warned that yet another series of thunderstorms was set to pummel North and Central Texas early Saturday morning, a day after flood waters submerged Texas highways and threatened homes across the already storm-damaged state.

A squall line stalled over Dallas overnight Thursday, dropping record-setting rainfall and triggering a Flash Flood Emergency in North Texas. The most recent rain added to the damage inflicted by thunderstorms that have killed at least 23 people statewide, including two overnight in North Texas, and left 13 missing.

The rain seeped into homes and stranded hundreds of drivers across the Metroplex, many of whom lingered along Dallas' Loop 12 for six hours Friday morning after being gridlocked by high water and abandoned vehicles.

Overnight, Dallas Fire-Rescue crews responded to more than 270 calls that included trapped vehicles and crashes, authorities said.

The Colorado River could crest in Wharton Saturday, causing major flooding in the community 60 miles southwest of Houston, forecasters said.

President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration amid the severe weather, offering federal funding to affected people in Harris, Hays and Van Zandt counties, the White House said in a statement early Saturday. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had earlier requested a presidential disaster declaration to get federal help for affected counties.

Two Dead in Overnight Flooding

Mesquite Fire Department Capt. Kelly Turner said a man's body was found early Friday morning after his truck had been swept into a culvert and submerged.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office identified the flood victim as 47-year-old John Jeffrey Usfrey.

Turner said people stranded on two cars that were also swept off the road told responders about the truck. He said the truck had been underwater for some time before they found it, and that authorities believe the man, whose name has not been released, was alone in the vehicle.

In Dallas, police said Friday afternoon the body of a man was found near California Crossing and Northwest Highway as flood waters receded. Police did not release the man's identity, but did say he was not found in a vehicle.

Recent storms are being blamed for killing seven people in Oklahoma and at least 23 in Texas, where 13 remain missing or unaccounted for.

Rainfall Sets New Record

Thursday's storm, which dropped nearly five inches of rain overnight at Dallas Love Field and more than two inches elsewhere around the Metroplex, helped set a record for the wettest May in Dallas-Fort Worth history.

The previous record for May rainfall was set in 1982 at 13.66 inches and was eclipsed at midnight when 13.87 inches had been recorded for the month. By 8 a.m., the total rose to 16.07 inches; 8.62 inches received in the last week alone.

According to The National Weather Service in Fort Worth, those 16 inches of rainfall amount to more than 35 trillion gallons of rain. 

The wettest month ever recorded in North Texas goes all the way back to April 1922 where 17.64 inches were recorded.  With more rain expected Friday night and into Saturday, shattering that record remains a possibility.

Dallas County

Flooding has blocked a busy highway west of Downtown Dallas, causing major traffic delays in both directions.

Overnight rain caused water to pool on Loop 12, under the Interstate 30 overpass Friday morning, trapping commuters for several hours. Some of the drivers said they had been there since 5 or 6 a.m.

Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Hartzel said a crane was brought in after 11 a.m. to remove a section of median so that motorists trapped in the southbound lanes could get off the roadway. The northbound lane had already been cleared.

He said the southbound lanes were more challenging because streets where people could have exited were flooded as well. He said they think that the area where the road usually drains to flooded as well, so there was nowhere for the water to go.

At 10:20 a.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said they had received more than 270 calls for help, most of which were for cars stranded in high water.  Evans added there were about 70 crashes reported.

"Obviously 'turn around don’t drown' is the phrase of the day," Evans said in a news release. "In addition to turning around, we would encourage drivers to map out at least two alternate routes to where they’re going, that way they don’t feel pressured to put themselves at risk. Better to be late to something than to put yourself in a situation where you just don’t get there at all."

Evans also reminded drivers that if they see an emergency vehicle blocking a roadway, it's there for a reason and to not drive around it.

"While not seeing a warning sign, for high water, can be understood; what’s inexcusable is drivers who drive around emergency and service vehicles to drive into the same high waters from which we are rescuing people," Evans said.

An NBC 5 photographer captured video of a driver maneuvering around a police cruiser beneath an overpass on Northwest Highway early Friday and heading directly into high water.

Rescue crews used a raft to help that driver to safety after the SUV gave way to the water.

"We have a sincere plea with our drivers. If you see a barricade or a sign, please do not try to drive through that area," said Sana Syed, City of Dallas spokesperson.

Tarik Hawkins told NBC News he was became stranded while trying to drive to work. He said it took him two hours to drive about a mile and described the situation on the road as "very chaotic."

"Right off I-35, there has to be 50 or 60 cars stranded," he said.

Israel Ramos, a 32-year-old tower inspector, said there was three inches of water inside his home and the street outside resembled "a river." He told NBC News that his neighbor called police when he saw an SUV floating down the street with a person inside.

The American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Tony Shotwell Life Center in Grand Prairie, according to spokeswoman Anita Foster. Supplies should arrive at the center at about 8 a.m.

Tarrant County

Arlington police said they blocked East Abram Street near Texas 360 because of major flooding over the roadway.

Authorities also received high-water calls on Interstate 30 near Oakland Boulevard and University Drive, 7200 Wichita Street and Trinity Boulevard near Precinct Line Road.

An NBC 5 viewer reported that Walnut Creek in Mansfield is swollen and pushing toward residential areas. Nearby Oliver Nature Park is also reportedly under water and closed.

Johnson County

Officials have evacuated or rescued about 19 people, according to Johnson County Emergency Management Coordinator Jamie Moore, but many more could be trapped in their homes.

"This is our fourth major flooding since April 26," he said. "We're doing rescues and having homes that are inundated with water."

About 45 roads are closed in the county due to flooding.

Parker County

Authorities said the Brazos River in Parker County is rising again due to new rain and the opening of two flood gates upstream at Possum Kingdom Lake.

County emergency management spokesman Joel Kertok said Friday that the river had risen above flood stage again after dropping below it Thursday night.

On Thursday, water was lapping at the foundations of 11 homes as the river crested at 23.58 feet before dropping to about 20 feet. The flood stage is at 21 feet. The level rose Friday to 21.4 feet and was expected to rise to nearly 27 feet Saturday.

Residents of about 250 homes near the river, most in the Horseshoe Bend community, were asked to voluntarily evacuate.

"The river is already above flood stage and will continue to rise through today and tomorrow," county emergency management coordinator George Teague said. "This situation will get worse before it gets better."

Flights Impacted

As of 10 a.m., officials reported that 44 flights into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport had been canceled; 56 arrivals were delayed. Thirteen flights departing from the airport were canceled and 52 more delayed.

One of D/FW Airport's runways closed temporarily after a storm drain crews were repairing to address a nearby sinkhole collapsed. Officials said they expect the closure to have minimal impact on flights.

Nineteen flights departing from Dallas Love Field were delayed and 19 more canceled. Eighteen flights into the airport were delayed and 18 more canceled.

Dallas Love Field also experienced a power outage caused by a surge overnight, according to airport official Jose Torres. Power has since been restored.


This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.

Man Flashed Multiple Women: PD

0
0

A man already arrested on charges of exposing himself to a jogger in Milford this month is facing further charges after police say he flashed several women in Stratford.

Police stopped David Lynch, 23, of Bridgeport, on May 22 after spotting his vehicle, which matches the description of a car tied to similar exposure incidents recently in Milford. Lynch is accused of exposing himself to women three times in Stratford and to a female jogger in Milford on May 17. .

Stratford and Milford investigators worked together to identify suspects in the flashing incidents.

Lynch surrendered to Stratford police on May 29 and officers charged him in all three Stratford exposure cases.

He was released from custody after posting his bond and he is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on June 3.

He was previously charged with breach of peace and public indecency in the Milford flashing incident.



Photo Credit: Stratford Police Department

Man in Critical Condition After Hartford Shooting

0
0

A man is in critical condition after he was shot in Hartford while fighting with another man over a women, police said.

Police responded to 8 Barbour Street in Hartford to investigate the shooting and have a suspect in custody.

The man shot was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and is in critical condition.

Mayor Pedro Segarra also came to the scene.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Hop Brook Lake Reopening After Bacteria Issues

0
0

The Army Corps of Engineers is reopening Hop Brook Lake in Middlebury for public swimming Sunday after the beach was closed because of high bacteria levels in the water.

The bacteria levels had exceeded state standards, so the beach has been closed since Hop Brook opened for the season on May 23.

The lake is located off Route 63 in Middlebury.

Crews Respond to Fall at Sleeping Giant

0
0

Hamden firefighters responded to a fall at Sleeping Giant State Park late Saturday afternoon.

The fall happened in the area of the yellow trail, according to the local Hamden fire union's Twitter account, @IAFFLocal2687.

No further details were immediately available.

Tar Balls Wash Up on Calif. Beaches

0
0

Tar balls and clumps of oil have washed up on Ventura County beaches in Southern California days after mysterious petroleum globs and "tar patties" arrived to the South Bay.

All Ventura County beaches were open as of Saturday afternoon, but the Ventura County Sheriff's Office said several beaches from Faria Beach to Hollywood Beach are impacted by the substance.

Beachgoers should avoid contact with any petroleum on the beach. The substance spotted Saturday was described as ranging from small tar balls to disk-shaped clumps of oil.

The Refugio Incident Command Team was helping collect and sample the petroleum, but it was not clear whether the oil is natural seepage or related to the oil spill in Santa Barbara County.

News of the tar balls comes one day after beaches in the South Bay reopened following a two-day closure affecting the coastline from El Segundo to Redondo Beach.

Crews had been working to clean up the tar, the source of which has not been determined. The environmental group Heal the Bay earlier had warned that the beaches should not be reopened "until all the oil is cleaned up."

The unknown petroleum substance began hitting the beach about 10 a.m. Wednesday. The U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies collected samples of the material and were trying to identify the substance and its source.

To report oil, contact the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at 800-424-8802. If interested in volunteering, contact California Spill Watch at 800-228-4544.



Photo Credit: Gunnar Nelson

Fiery Crash Closes Route 8 in Derby

0
0

Route 8 in Derby is closed in both directions due to a fiery motor vehicle crash on Saturday evening.

The highway is closed on the southbound side between exits 17 and 15 and on the northbound side between exits 17 and 18, according to the Department of Transportation.

Route 8 is expected to remain closed for about an hour or less. The closure was reported to the DOT just after 6 p.m.

Police Arrest 2 in Stolen Checks Case

0
0

Police arrested a man and a woman suspected in a stolen checks case in Colchester.

After launching the investigation April 27, Colchester police conducted a traffic stop on Route 16 near Ashley Lane Friday and arrested Tabatha Peltier, of Colchester, and Shane Boulais, of Marlborough, on a warrant on charges of multiple counts of forgery and larceny, Colchester police said on the department's Facebook page. They were cooperative with police when they were taken into custody.

Police charged Peltier with 11 counts of forgery, 11 counts of sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny and Boulais with two counts of forgery, two counts of sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny.

Both were held in custody on $5,000 bonds and are due in Norwich Superior Court on June 1. Peltier was taken to York Correctional and Boulais was transported to Corrigan Correctional.



Photo Credit: Colchester Police Department
Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images