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Police Use Taser on Bridgeport Burglary Suspect

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Bridgeport police arrested the man accused of committing a string of burglaries in the Black Rock section of the city after chasing him and shooting him with a Taser on Friday.

Alvin Nieves, 41, has been charged with burglary criminal trespass, breach of peace and interfering with an officer/resisting arrest.

Police said they began pursuing him after a resident heard someone running down the stairs of an apartment home on Courtland Avenue near Montgomery Street and watched Nieves ride away on a bicycle.

About 20 minutes later, someone else reported seeing Nieves at a store near the corner of Fairfield Avenue and Brewster Street. Police said Nieves tried to pedal away from officers who arrived to question him.

He turned onto Fox Street and squeezed through a narrow fence opening in an effort to elude them, then went through a parking lot. Officers chased him on foot onto Fairfield Avenue and Jetland Place, where they caught up to him behind St. Ann's School, police said.

Nieves refused to stop so an officer shot him with a Taser, according to police. He told officers he ran because he was carrying illegal prescription drugs and had previously swallowed 10 pills and used cocaine.

Nieves was taken by ambulance to Bridgeport Hospital and arrested.

His bond was set at $10,000. It's not clear if he has an attorney.



Photo Credit: Bridgeport Police Department

Off-Duty Stamford Firefighter Honored for Rescue

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An off-duty Stamford firefighter who raced into a burning building in Greenwich and rescued a resident from a fire and explosion is being recognized as a hero.

City of Stamford Firefighter Rocco Terenzio, who is assigned to the West Side Fire Station, has been awarded the Police and Firemen's Insurance Association's Heroes Hall of Fame award.

On March 9, he was off-duty and did not have personal protective equipment when he raced into a home on North Ridge Road in Greenwich and rescued a civilian, according to the Stamford Fire Department.

Paramedics removed the victim from the scene and he has recovered from his injuries.

Officials from the fire department said the victim's injuries might have been more extensive, or even fatal, if not for Terenzio’s brave actions.

He will receive his award at Stamford Fire Headquarters on Wednesday.
 



Photo Credit: Greenwich Fire Department and Greenwich Fire Department

Man Dies After Commuter Lot Shooting

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A 26-year-old Manchester man has died over a month after he was shot several times at a state-owned commuter lot off Route 15 in East Hartford, according to state police.

Police originally said 26-year-old shooting victim Gregory Clark's injuries weren't believed to be life-threatening, but state police said they learned Thursday that he has since died of his injuries. The Manchester resident's death has been ruled a homicide.

His family and members from an anti-violence group are gathering for a vigil on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at 198 Branford Street in Hartford.

East Hartford police said they received a call at 9:21 p.m. on Aug. 6 reporting a shooting in the area of 500 Main Street and found Clark in a car at the intersection of Main Street and Silver Lane. He'd been shot several times and was rushed to Hartford Hospital.

As they investigated, local police discovered that Clark was shot in the state-owned commuter parking lot off Route 15 northbound, at exit 90, so they called state troopers from Troop H in Hartford.

The state troopers then searched the area for other possible victims, but did not find any. They also searched for the shooter and witnesses.

In addition to the troopers, the Central District Major Crime unit also responded and continues to investigate the shooting.

The incident remains under investigation.

State police ask anyone with information to call the Troop H barracks in Hartford at 860-534-1000. Calls will remain confidential.

Police investigated several scenes in East Hartford -- 500 Main Street, near the commuter lot; near Mr. Sparkle at Main and Lilac streets; and at a white car marked with crime scene tape at Main Street and Silver Lane. It's unclear whether they're all connected.

State police said there is no threat to the public.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Longer Fall Foliage Season, Earlier Peak Color Good for Business

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After a dry summer, many want to know how this year's fall foliage will turn out. While the grass may be brown, the news is good.

"Fall is our busiest season, without a doubt. If people do want to get away, they should start making their reservations soon," said Pamela Gutlon, innkeeper at Simsbury's 1820 House.

Gutlon is fairly new to Connecticut, and while she misses the Carolinas, she speaks highly of Connecticut's fall foliage.

"In the south, you sort of wake up one morning and you go, oh, there's a crocus. And you realize that spring has come. But here the seasons are so distinctly different that the anticipation is overwhelming," she said.

Anticipation for a vibrant season, that is.

"The dryness this summer and even this fall, it's going to be dry this coming week, will really start to turn the leaves earlier than normal," said state forester Christoper Martin.

Some leaves have already started falling across the state, especially along roadways, but Martin confirms that's not cause for concern.

"Trees that are turning color now, they're often seen along highways where road cuts exist, oftentimes are located on ledgy, shallow soils. Those soils have dried up," he said.

But most autumn adventures take people into forests, and that's where the fall color will be vibrant this year.

Gutlon says the inn she manages is getting many calls about accommodations for this fall and it's already sold out on some weekends.

A longer season means more opportunities to get out and enjoy autumn. Bruce Donald, president of the Farmington Valley Trails Council, is excited about an early peak foliage. He says the trails mean business for the communities along the routes.

"As it stays warmer through the fall, we keep a lot of the people that would traditionally back off from using the trail."

And for those that have never gone on a leaf-peeping getaway? Gutlon has a message.

"Oh you're missing out on having a great experience. Take a weekend, come on up, borrow a bike, go for a ride, go kayaking, go to the flower bridge, just see everything – it's spectacular."

Peak color is projected to occur as early as the first weekend of October in the northwest and northeast hill towns, reaching the shoreline by late October.

Gov. Malloy to Welcome Pope to Washington, D.C.

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Connecticut's Roman Catholic governor will welcome Pope Francis when he arrives at the White House this week.

"I have to tell you it’s pretty thrilling. I get to thinking, how often will I get invited to the White House by the president to meet the pope? It’s a little different," said Gov. Dannel Malloy.

He will also attend Mass.

"They made room for me," Malloy quipped.

Malloy, who was raised in the Catholic tradition and attended a Catholic college, said that he has noticed the church become more conservative over the years.

He said he likes what's he seen and heard from Francis.

"I read the documents he publishes. I follow his statements and his sermons. It’s an exciting time for Catholics internationally," he said.

On policy issues, Malloy said he thinks Connecticut lines up well with the pontiff and that the pope would look fondly upon his efforts to provide relief to one-time criminal offenders, through the Second Chance Initiative.

"I’m in alignment with the pope," Malloy said. "Or he’s in alignment with me, as is the president, but Connecticut’s leading there."

The pope has been vocal about climate change, urging advanced nations to do more to care for the environment. Malloy said the church has a partner in that movement.

"He’s talking about the nations that will be wiped away just on the warming of the environment and the additional tides that literally wipe nations away," he said.

Malloy said his priorities to expand housing for the people who need it or making sure Obamacare works in Connecticut are examples of his use of private sector resources to partner with government to help the most people. He said he aligns with the pope on those priorities.

"I believe in Capitalism. The pope believes in Capitalism. On the other hand it’s got to work for everybody, not just a precious few," he said.

Child Finds Bullet Near School Playground

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Police were called to an elementary school in South Windsor on Monday afternoon after a student found an inactive bullet by the playground.

Police said they responded to the Philip R. Smith, at 949 Avery Street, at 1:43 p.m. after teachers called to report a student who was playing in the grass near the playground found a bullet.

When police responded, they found what they said was a heavily weathered, inert .22-caliber “short” bullet that appeared to have been on the ground for a long time.

The school day was not disrupted, according to police.

No additional information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

FBI Nabs Suspect in String of Connecticut Bank Robberies

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The FBI has been searching for a man who has robbed at least six banks in several central Connecticut towns this summer and authorities have arrested a 31-year-old Middletown man on federal charges.

Matthew Dragone, a 31-year-old man living in a home for recovering substance abusers, is suspected of robbing banks in Berlin, Cheshire, Deep River, Durham, Killingworth, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He was arrested after several people identified him as a suspect.

During the robbery at Liberty Bank, at 357 Main Street in Durham, on Sept. 3, he was dressed in dark sunglasses, a blue-striped long-sleeve dress shirt and a white baseball cap with a “Coors Lite” logo, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Dragone held a cellphone to his ear when he approached the teller at the counter and handed over a bank bag with a note attached to the front that demanded money and ordered the bank employee not to include a dye pack or GPS, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The teller placed around $1,490 in cash in the bag and handed it to Dragone, who drove off with the cash, federal officials said.

Investigators who responded to the scene found a "Coors Lite" baseball cap and a blue-striped shirt on the side of the road about 50 yards from the bank and laboratory DNA analysis eventually led investigators to identify Dragone as the suspect.

Dragone is also suspected of robbing the Webster Bank, at 145 Highland Avenue in Cheshire, on Aug. 12; the TD Bank at 1127 Farmington Avenue in Berlin, on Aug. 13; the Liberty Bank, at 151 Main Street in Deep River; on Aug. 17; the TD Bank, at 25 Wells Road in Wethersfield, on Aug.31; the Webster Bank; the TD Bank, at 184 Clinton Road in Killingworth on Sept. 11; and the attempted robbery at 377 Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill, on Sept. 9.

During the robbery at Webster Bank in Cheshire on Aug. 12, the robber handed the teller a note that said "(G)ive me all your money quickly, no dye packs or you'll regret it," according to the criminal complaint. The teller handed over $73 during that robbery.

During the robbery on Aug. 13, the robber held a cell phone to his ear and handed over a note that read "(A)ct normal and don't move fast, put all the 20's, 50's, 100's (sic) in this envelope and do no dye packs or GPS." The teller handed over $2,200 in that robbery.

The man who robbed the Liberty Bank on Deep River on Aug. 17 was also holding a cell phone against his ear and handed over a note in purple ink that said," I want 20's, 50's (sic) and hundreds, no dye pack s, you have 15 seconds," the complaint says. The teller handed over $2,320 during that robbery.

During the Aug. 31 robbery at TD bank in Wethersfield, the robber also used a note. It said, "Fill this bag with money," and the robbery stole $500 before leaving in a green Honda Civic with heavy front-end damage, passenger side damage and a loud exhaust.

A note was also used in the robbery at Liberty Bank in Durham on Sept. 3.

"(R)emain calm (sic) place 10's, 20's. 50's, 100's (sic) in bag, no dye packs, no GPS, I will check," he wrote, according to the complaint. The robber left with $14,900 in a getaway car described also a greenish Honda Civic.

When the man robbed the Webster Bank in Cromwell on Sept. 9, he handed over a note with identical writing, according to the complaint.

Officials said they found the clothing and sunglasses matching those worn during the Durham robbery and a bank-style bag consistent with the one used during several of the bank robberies in Dragone’s home during a search on Sept. 16.

Police said they are continuing to investigate.



Photo Credit: FBI

Old Lyme Teen Takes Talents to 'The Voice'

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A 15-year-old Old Lyme High School student hopes to follow in the footsteps of Connecticut natives Javier Colon and Sawyer Fredericks by winning this season of NBC's "The Voice."

Singer and guitarist Braiden Sunshine began his journey on "The Voice" during Monday night's series premiere.

The teen joined a band for the first time when he was 9 years old and has taken his talents to stages across the state.

"I've been doing music ever since I can ever really remember," he told "The Voice" prior to his performance Monday. "This kind of an opportunity could definitely change my life."

Guitar in hand, he crooned Blues Traveler's "The Mountains Win Again," winning over judges Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani, who fought playfully to count Braiden among their team members.

"I've been in a band since I was 17, and I'm also the mother of three boys, so I know how to fight for someone who I really care about and find out who you want to be," Stefani told him.

After much deliberation, Braiden went with Gwen, who hugged him and gifted him a "Team Gwen" T-shirt.

"It was just shocking that somebody that young could have so much tone," Stefani explained. "I can't wait to see what else he can do."

Braiden, for his part, is just getting his feet wet. He looks to last season's winner Sawyer Fredericks, a Newtown native, as his inspiration.

"Watching Pharrell help Sawyer win the competition was really cool, and he was just this small-town kid, so I thought if he can do it, I can at least give it a shot," Braiden said. "Being the youngest here, I want to prove that I'm a real competitor."

There's no shortage of support for Braiden back home. He joined friends and family members to watch his pre-taped audition Monday night back home at Lymes' Youth Service Bureau.

"The first time I met him, he was in third grade and I could just tell he had such great talent," said Connecticut resident and longtime fan Missy Garvin. "I have just seen him grow up through town, seen him come to talent shows that we've done here at the Youth Service Bureau, and every year he just keeps getting better and better and I think he's the perfect person for 'The Voice.'"



Photo Credit: BraidenSunshine.com

Bird Smashes Into Plane Windshield

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A plane made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport Monday evening after a bird struck its windshield, officials said.

American Airlines Flight 1889, which departed from Charlotte, North Carolina, was heading to Hartford, Connecticut when a bird hit its windshield, causing a crack. Officials say 114 passengers and five crew members were on board.

The Airbus 319 was diverted to Philly International and landed safely around 6:30 p.m. No one was injured during the incident.

The passengers and crew members were transferred to another plane which departed Philly International at 7:38 p.m. The damaged aircraft was taken out of service and officials replaced the windshield.

There have been 42 bird strikes at Philadelphia International this year, according to federal data.

Ready For Francis? Prep for Day 1 of Pope's Visit

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Pope Francis arrives Tuesday from Cuba for his first trip to the United States, a six-day visit that will take him from the White House in Washington, D.C., to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. He will speak to the U.S. Congress, address the United Nations in New York and give a speech on religious liberty at Independence Hall before heading back to Rome.

Here’s what to expect on Tuesday when the Pope lands just outside of Washington, D.C.:

Arrival at Joint Base Andrews, 4 P.M.

Pope Francis will be greeted by President Barack and Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe and Dr. Jill Biden at Joint Base Andrews, which is located in Prince George's County, Maryland.

The event is closed to the public, but there are a few other fortunate people who will join the official welcoming party, including some D.C.-area Catholic school students.

Chance of Traffic Delays: Moderate to High

Rolling road closures will precede the presidential motorcade out to Andrews and back to Washington.

The Pope does not have any public events Tuesday. However, Massachusetts Avenue, the busy road outside the Vatican's Apostolic Nunciature, or embassy, will close to southbound traffic Tuesday afternoon and stay closed through the visit. See all road closures here.

Washington, D.C., Forecast

Highs of 70°- 75°, according to Storm Team4. There is a 30 percent chance of morning rain, but sunshine is set to return to the area Tuesday afternoon in time for Pope Francis’ arrival.  

Want to watch the arrival?

We will cover the Pope's arrival live, including livestreams on our website and in our app.

If You're in Town

Check out these tips on how to get around. Still have questions? Here's what you can and can't do during Francis' visit to D.C. 

In Case You Missed It 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Kim Davis Altering Licenses: ACLU

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The American Civil Liberties Union filed a court motion on Monday saying that Rowan County clerk Kim Davis is interfering with deputies who are issuing wedding licenses to same-sex couples, NBC News reported.

Davis is accused of confiscating “all the original forms” and of providing “a changed form” that didn’t mention Rowan County, according to the motion. The new form, the motion said, didn’t mention Davis’ name nor that of the deputy clerk.

The ACLU is representing several couples suing the county and is asking that older, unmodified versions of the county's licenses be used. 

Davis, who returned to her job on Sept. 14 as the county's clerk, spent a week in jail for refusing to provide same-sex couples with marriage licenses. Davis pledged she wouldn’t interfere with deputies issuing marriage licenses.



Photo Credit: AP

Why Did Scott Walker Fall in 2016 Race

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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's decision to drop out of the presidential race on Monday came as he entered the kind of death spiral struggling campaigns often do, NBC News reported.

The candidate who had once led in polls in Iowa was now well behind in the Hawkeye State and outside of the top 10 GOP candidates in some national surveys. He was potentially in danger of not qualifying for the next GOP debate. And with donors unwilling to give money to a candidate who appeared to be a loser, Walker was running low on campaign funds.

But why was Walker struggling to raise money and maintain his standing in polls? Because the second-term Wisconsin governor was supposed to be the man who could satisfy both wings of the Republican Party but ended up pleasing neither.



Photo Credit: AP

More Details in Fox Lake Shooting

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Officials on Monday said that gunshot residue and ballistic tests done during the investigation into a veteran Fox Lake police officer's shooting "do not support or exclude any theory." 

The reports came in Monday morning, just as authorities were scheduled to meet following reports that they were at odds in their investigation, according to task force spokesman Chris Covelli. 

Covelli said they are still investigating the shooting as a "homicide," based on Fox Lake police lieutenant Joseph Gliniewicz's radio call that he was pursuing three suspicious suspects just before his death and the fact that a canine managed to trace a path from the crime scene.

Covelli addressed DNA evidence found at the scene, which investigators earlier reported did not match Gliniewicz. He said the DNA is currently being analyzed against a database of all convicted felons along with anyone interviewed during the process of the investigation. 

The shooting prompted a furious police manhunt when Gliniewicz was shot Sept 1. After flooding western Lake County with over 400 officers, as well as helicopters and canines, the trail now appears to have gone cold, and police have not taken reporters’ questions since Sept. 9.

Covelli noted that authorities are pursuing more than 300 leads in the case.

"There is no rock left unturned," he said. "We are looking at every angle in this investigation."

Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd has revealed that Gliniewicz died from a “devastating” gunshot wound and officials said he was struck by two bullets, but investigators have not revealed how many shots were fired and if the fatal round came from the Lieutenant’s own gun, which was recovered at the scene.

Last Tuesday, for the first time, officials with the task force investigating the officer’s death conceded they are considering both homicide and suicide.

Meanwhile, Gliniewicz’s son Donald "D.J." Gliniewicz told the Daily Herald, "my father never once had a single suicidal thought in his life."

"He has applied for several different chief positions at police departments and someone who wants to take their life, they don't plan a future," D.J. Gliniewicz told the publication.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cops: Sunrise Man Mutilates GF

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**Disclaimer: The content provided in this story contains graphic material**

A Miami-area man is accused of killing and disemboweling his girlfriend allegedly because the woman called out the name of her ex-husband during sex, police said.

According to an arrest report, 24-year-old Fidel Lopez called Sunrise Police just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday to his apartment located 11630 Northwest 128th Drive. Lopez told police that his girlfriend, 31-year-old Maria Nemeth, was not breathing.

Police arrived to find Nemeth's naked body on the bathroom floor surrounded by blood and bodily tissue. Police also observed holes in the dry wall and a closet door that had been removed and was lying on the hallway floor, and began to suspect a struggle and foul play.

Officers also reported seeing cut limes and a half empty bottle of tequila in the kitchen.

Neighbors told police they'd heard lots of yelling and loud noises coming from apartment 308, the unit Lopez and Nemeth had shared for about a week, for the past two hours.

During initial questioning, Lopez claimed that he and Nemeth had been having rough, consensual sex when she went into the bathroom, vomited and passed out.

Upon further questioning, Lopez claimed to police that during sex, Nemeth allegedly called out the name of her ex-husband twice. Lopez told police that upon hearing this, he became enraged and turned into a "monster."

The report indicates that Lopez flew into a rage, breaking things in the apartment and punching holes in the wall. He went into the closet where Nemeth was lying unconscious, and began to violently assault her, inserting various items, including a beer bottle, a hair flat iron, and both of his fists, into her as she lay unconscious, police said. Lopez admitted to police that he inserted his arm so far into Nemeth's body that he ripped out her intestines.

Lopez told police that Nemeth never regained consciousness during the attack, and that he attempted to revive her by splashing water onto her face.

He went to the bathroom to wash blood off of his hands, then went to smoke a cigarette on the porch. Police said a panicked Lopez then started grabbing various items to try and cover the bloody tissue he'd removed from Nemeth's body during the violent attack.

Lopez checked on Nemeth a final time, and upon discovering that she was not breathing, called 911.

Police arrested Lopez and charged him with first-degree murder. He was ordered held without bond. Records did not indicate whether Lopez had hired an attorney.

Neighbors remembered Nemeth as a sweet, kind person that everyone seemed to love.

"Very gentle, very private. Soft-spoken young lady. We all loved her. Very pleasant young lady," said Dan Carter.

"Very sweet, loving girl. Been here for years. I've been in and out of the office for eight years," said Debbie Katz.

Nemeth worked as a leasing agent at the apartment complex where she met Lopez.

Putin is 'Charming' and 'Funny': Fiorina

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Carly Fiorina has been making waves across the campaign trail - and she got right down to business when she appeared on the “Tonight Show” on Monday.

The Republican presidential candidate sat down with host Jimmy Fallon to talk about her campaign, her career and about some of her opponents.

Fallon asked how she felt about Ben Carson’s recent statements - that he believes a Muslim should never be able to become president of the U.S.

“I think that’s wrong. It says in our constitution that religion can’t be a test of office,” she said.

“Would you be fine with [a Muslim president being elected]?”

“Yes, I would be fine with that,” she answered.

Fiorina said her faith has been a very important part of her life, having helped her during her battle with breast cancer and following the death of her stepfather.

“Faith gives us humility, empathy and optimism,” she said.

"You've met Putin?" Fallon asked Fiorina.

Fiorina laid out her plan, if elected, on how she intends to deal with Russia.

"What I would do, is immediately, rebuilding the Sixth Fleet. I'd rebuild the missle defense program in Poland. I'd conduct regular military exercise in the Baltics. I'd put a few thousand more troops in Germany," she told Fallon.

"Putin needs to see that he faces strength and resolve and leadership from the United States of America. He would see that from me."

Fiorina said she met the Russian leader in Beijing when she was CEO of Hewlett-Packard. She described him as a formidable, confident adversary who can be funny and charming. 

“He’s a KGB guy. We shouldn’t forget this. He lusts for power,” she said.

The latest polls show Fiorina’s popularity among Republicans has spiked after her performance at the second GOP debates. She’s now sitting in second place right after frontrunner Donald Trump, who she likened to the Russian leader.

“He’s a lot like Putin. I won’t say anymore.”  



Photo Credit: Douglas Gorenstein/NBC

Man Takes Video of Boys During Sexual Slumber Parties: Feds

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A Connecticut man is facing federal charges after allegedly setting up cameras around his house to record explicit video of teenage boys who he invited over for slumber parties that turned sexual.

Mark W. Irvin, 63, of Meriden, has been charged with production and possession of child pornography. Federal prosecutors said cameras placed throughout Irvin's house on Glen Hills Road – including in the bathroom – were constantly recording.

According to residents, Irvin handed out fliers inviting neighborhood teens to spend weekends at his house and play games that involved covering them with shaving cream and chocolate pudding.

Irvin provided the teens with alcohol, showed them pornographic movies, gave them sex dolls and touched them inappropriately, according to the warrant for his arrest. He also allegedly encouraged the boys to touch each other in sexual ways.

The neighbor who alerted police said one night she saw Irvin huddled in a backyard tent with a group of young people who were laughing and joking.

"You could see images on the tent of silhouettes of boys' naked bodies. You could see Mark. At one point, I saw Mark standing up. He was naked," explained Anna Roberts. "It was kind of gross. You could see everything, and you could see the movie he was showing. It was porn and it was really explicit."

Roberts said Irvin brushed off the issue when she confronted him about it.

"He stood there and he was totally naked and I asked him, I said, 'Mark, what are you doing outside standing there naked?' And he looked at me and said, 'What? They're all of age,'" she recalled.

Police arrived and searched Irvin's home, seizing camcorders, computers, VHS tapes, CDs, DVDs, thumb drives and storage devices. At least one contained naked photos of a 13-year-old boy, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Federal prosecutors said another teen told police Irvin "had had repeated sexual contact with him since he was 15 years old," and had watched Irvin engage in sexual activity with other boys.

Irvin was arrested Sept. 18 and appeared in federal court Monday. He's due back for a detention hearing on Sept. 24.

He could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted. The investigation continues and additional charges are possible.

"I hope they throw the book at him. I really do. He's a piece of garbage," Roberts said.

It's not clear if Irvin has an attorney.

Meriden police are asking anyone with information to call the department at 203-238-1911.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Mother and Child Killed, 2nd Child Hurt When Car Hits House

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A mother and child were killed and a second child was seriously hurt when the family car struck the front porch of a house in the Terryville section of Plymouth and rolled over Monday evening.

It happened on the 100 block of South Main Street. According to the fire chief, the impact caused heavy damage to the home, which was empty at the time. The car landed on its side in the driveway.

Police said the mother and two young boys were trapped. Officers and bystanders worked together to free the young children, while firefighters cut off the roof of the car to extricate the mother, who was behind the wheel.

The mother was pronounced dead at the scene. One of her sons was taken by LifeStar to Hartford Hospital, where he died. The second was transported to Waterbury Hospital and is listed in serious but stable condition, according to police.

Authorities have not publicly identified the family members or released the children's ages.

Plymouth police spokesman Sgt. Randy Foster said counseling services are available to first responders who witnessed the scene and are "shaken up."

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash. Neighbors said speeding is a problem on the road, which police described as winding and well traveled.

A resident who was mowing his lawn said the car appeared to be driving fast.

Check back for updates on this developing story.



Photo Credit: Adam Polaski

Escape to the Bushnell to See The Illusionists

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As a little boy living in northern Italy, Andrew Basso always had the dream of escaping "the ordinary life." And now as one of The Illusionists, escaping is quite literally what he's doing.

Opening Tuesday night at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Basso will perform with a group of seven illusionists as the escape artist.

The varying skills of the illusionists bring an array of entertainment elements to the show. Basso goes by The Escapologist. Think Harry Houdini trapped in a water tank, hanging upside down. Basso does a similar "full view water torture cell," but he said he adds a few elements that make it more difficult and "more actual for the audience." There's no curtain, so the audience sees all. 

"I don't put any covers, so I'm not hiding any trickery or illusion. I need to escape if I want to save my life," Basso said.

Just last week an escape artist who is friends with magician Criss Angel nearly drowned during a water tank stunt in New Jersey. When asked if he has the fear of that happening to him during his stunt, Basso said, "Yes, every time. Because every time can be the last one."

"I try to avoid all the dangers through my skills," he said. "It's for professionals only."

Other acts include The Anti-Conjuror, The Manipulator, The Inventor, The Trickster, The Weapon Master and The Dare Devil.

"Each one is a world champion in his own specific field," Basso said. "They are different figures that will fit the tastes of the whole family, the whole audience. The little kid, the grandparents. It's quite difficult. If you go to a concert of Justin Bieber, it's quite difficult to have a common topic. So I think it's quite unique as an experience for them."

The show was created three and a half years ago at the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia about three years ago. It came to the U.S. in November, making its debut in the country on Broadway and now touring the country.

"It has a very high rock concert energy, so I really think younger people will love it," Basso said. "You don't have the musician with the classical music coming out or the tuxedo. There is a taste for everybody. There are very high, intense dramatic moments. There are very funny moments. There is audience involved. So, it's a very interactive show. We have giant screens on stage so even the smallest trick that is done on stage can be appreciated in the last row of the theater."

They're called the illusionists, so what distinguishes them from magicians in the trade?

"We wish we magicians. Illusionist, it's like a more generic word to bring all the abilities we all differently have. Also the stuff we do is real. The skills are real," Basso said. "Maybe we create the illusion of something, but we spend our life too to develop the real skill."

The show opens Tuesday night and runs in Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell from Sept. 22 to 27. More information about the tour is available on The Illusionists website, www.theillusionistslive.com. Ticket information is also available on The Bushnell website, www.bushnell.org.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Boy, 12, Bitten by Shark off Fla.

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A 12-year-old Georgia boy is recovering from what police call "significant" injuries following a shark attack at Fernandina Beach in northeast Florida Sunday afternoon.

According to a report from First Coast News in Jacksonville, the boy was swimming in waist deep water around 12:30 p.m. when police say he felt something bite around his knee. The boy saw a shark and punched the animal as it bit him a second time.

The boy's father told police that he saw what appeared to be a 4-foot shark with a black tip on its dorsal fin thrashing nearby in the water.

The boy was treated at the scene for lacerations, and was taken to UF Health in Jacksonville for further treatment.

Fernandina Beach is located in Nassau County on Amelia Island, and is among Florida's northernmost cities. It is considered part of the greater Jacksonville area.

A recent federal study shows a record number of sharks swimming off the coast from Florida to North Carolina.

According to the study, researchers captured or tagged 2,835 sharks from Florida to North Carolina in April and May. That compares with 1,831 sharks tagged in the most recent survey in 2012.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Bank Robbery Leads to Alert at Quinnipiac University

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A man robbed a bank not far from Quinnipiac University in Hamden on Tuesday morning, which led to  the university sending out an alert to students.

"Please be advised the Peoples Bank, 3496 Whitney Ave., Hamden, was robbed at 10:15 a.m.Tuesday by a male suspect last seen heading north toward Cheshire," Quinnipiac said in an alert sent to the Quinnipiac community.

The bank is less than half a mile away from campus.

Police said a man wearing black clothing and gloves approached an employee in the reception area, demanded money, reached into a cash drawer, pulled some out and put it in a multi-colored backpack, then walked into the parking lot toward another business.

Police searched the area, but did not find the robber. 

Now, they are asking anyone with information about the bank robbery to call Detective Mark Consorte of the Hamden Police Department Major Crimes Division at (203) 230-4040.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com
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