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Ginsburg on Anthem Protests

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Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wasn't afraid to be blunt when expressing her opinion about the athletes taking a knee or raising a fist during the ongoing national anthem protests.

"I think it's really dumb of them," Ginsburg told Katie Couric in a Yahoo News interview, but nevertheless said they had a right to protest.

Ginsburg, the latest high-profile figure to weigh in on the protest movement sparked by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, likened dropping to one knee or hoisting a fist into the air while the "Star-Spangled Banner" blares to desecrating the Stars and Stripes.

"I think it's dumb and disrespectful," Ginsburg said in the interview. "I would have the same answer if you asked me about flag burning. I think it's a terrible thing to do, but I wouldn't lock a person up for doing it. I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act."

Kaepernick has said the protest is about drawing attention to the oppression of black people and other minorities by U.S. law enforcement agents, especially the shootings of unarmed black men.

Ever since the 49ers signal caller took a seat on the bench while the national anthem played before a preseason contest back in August, other athletes across the NFL and beyond have continued the movement, in hopes of raising awareness for racial injustice and policy brutality.

While she is not shy to voice her disapproval, Ginsburg, a member of the liberal wing of the Supreme Court, does respect the constitutional right of Kaepernick and athletes everywhere to make a statement on the sideline.

"If they want to be stupid, there's no law that should be preventive," Ginsburg said in the interview. "If they want to be arrogant, there's no law that prevents them from that. What I would do is strongly take issue with the point of view that they are expressing when they do that."



Photo Credit: AP, File

Husband of Meriden Victim Fatally Struck Mourns Wife

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The husband of a Meriden woman killed in a hit-and-run on Friday is speaking out, while mourning the loss of his wife.

Meriden Police were dispatched at 8:34 PM Friday night after a pedestrian was struck by a car on Springdale Avenue. They found 40-year-old Dania Cedeno-Delrosario lying partially under a white SUV that was parked on the street. Cedeno-Delrosario was taken by LifeStar to Hartford Hospital where she died from her injuries.

The vehicle that hit her had fled the scene. 

Police said the mother had her 7-year-old daughter, Denisse, with her. She suffered minor injuries from the accident.

Family members said Cedano-Delrosario was returning home from her sister's house. They said Denisse was pushed by her mother to get out of the way.

Husband, Marcos Guerrero fought back the tears as NBC Connecticut interviewed him about his beloved wife, Dania Cedeno Delrosario.

Reporter Catalina Trivino translated his responses from Spanish.

Guerrero said there was no opportunity for his family to share their happiness together. Marcos and Dania had been married for 20 years. He just moved from the Dominican Republic three months ago to be with his wife and children.

He said, "The person who did this has to pay the consequences. They left two children as orphans from their mother. They have their father, but it’s not the same."

As authorities search to identify the vehicle that struck Cedano-Delrosario, her husband is pleading for help from anyone who may have information.

"Now, I’ll have to return to the Dominican Republic with the body of my adored wife," he said in tears.

The family plans to have a funeral for Cedano Delrosario in Meriden, followed by having one in the Dominican Republic.

Meriden Police are looking for a dark colored Nissan with damage on the driver's side. If anyone has any information, call police.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

New Britain Residents Frustrated With Rowdy CCSU Students

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Some New Britain residents who live near Central Connecticut State University are feeling fed up over rowdy college students in their neighborhoods.

Gerard Belanger has lived at his Foxon Place home for about 26 years

He has never considered moving until lately.

"And there are a lot of other neighbors that are considering the same thing that that is one of the few things that they can do is to move and to get out," said Belanger.

He said his neighborhood has changed drastically since he first moved here as CCSU students have started moving in to neighboring homes.

Belanger said noise from parties from Thursday through Sunday have gotten so loud, he’s had to move his bedroom to the back of the house to get sleep.

"We put our garbage out on the curb, cans get knocked over. I know one of my next door neighbors he had the solar lights that they have running the sidewalk that the lights were pulled up and thrown away," said Belanger.

Some students agree it has gotten out of hand.

"I have an 8 a.m. class on Fridays so it’s really annoying when there’s screaming and throwing up," said student, Sarah Calano.

CCSU officials said campus police are working with New Britain Police to fix the problem.

"We are actually out on patrol we also spend a good bit of money on overtime particularly on Thursday nights trying to see what we can do to keep things calm," said CCSU chief administrative officer, Richard Bachoo.

University officials are urging students to be considerate of their neighbors.

If there are any issues, you can contact New Britain or CCSU Police.

David Ortiz's Career Ends With Indians' Sweep of Red Sox

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This is not the day, or the way, he wanted it to happen. But David Ortiz's career came to an end on a cold autumn night in Boston.

Like so many of his fondest moments, the stakes were high and the lights were bright. An October baseball game at Fenway Park. Just as he'd done in 2007, en route to the Red Sox' second World Series victory of the millennium, his opponent was the Cleveland Indians.

But this time, Terry Francona was managing the other team. And this time, Coco Crisp, who hit .194 that postseason with the Red Sox, hit a two-run homer for Cleveland to put the final game out of reach in the sixth inning.

And this time, Boston went down in three.

The 4–3 loss in ALDS Game 3 came off an adequate start by Clay Buchholz, who had a bad regular season featuring a 4.78 ERA, poor peripherals and a losing record. Buchholz gave up two runs, all in the fourth inning.

He had allowed six hits and a walk on 75 pitches when John Farrell lifted him after that inning.

Andrew Benintendi doubled in Xander Bogaerts to cut the Indians' lead in half in the fifth. But then Drew Pomeranz, who pitched extremely well in Game 1, gave up the blast to Crisp in the sixth. Boston responded by taking another one back that inning – Dustin Pedroia walked, Mookie Betts doubled and Big Papi smacked one hard to center. Rajai Davis caught it, but it scored Pedroia.

In the eighth, Ortiz was part of another run, moving Betts to second with a walk. Hanley Ramirez singled Betts home. Farrell lifted Papi for a pinch runner, but Bogaerts lined out to end the inning.

Closer Craig Kimbrel pitched a spectacular ninth. Then with two outs, Jackie Bradley Jr. singled and Pedroia walked. But Travis Shaw flew out to end the game, and Francona went back to the ALCS for the first time since he faced his new team in 2007.

The Red Sox may not have ended on top in Ortiz's final year. But all season, Ortiz played better than anyone could have expected. He hit 38 home runs, more than anyone 40 or older ever has. He led all of baseball with 48 doubles and a 1.021 OPS, and he led the American League with 127 RBI. His .620 slugging average is the second highest any player ever had in his final season – behind only fellow Red Sox legend Ted Williams.

Without Ortiz's postseason heroics, Boston would be a very different place. The MVP of the 2004 ALCS and the 2013 World Series has consistently excelled in more than half a season's worth of playoff games. And Ortiz's radiant personality has been just as important, his rallying cry of "This is our f***ing city" embodying everything that is Boston in the wake of the tragic marathon bombings.

We won't know for some time whether Big Papi is a Hall of Famer. But most fans who have watched him over his 14 years with the Red Sox have little doubt he belongs there.

#ThanksPapi



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Pedro Martinez Makes Native American Comment on Columbus Day

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Pedro Martinez lit up Twitter on Monday night after the Boston Red Sox lost to the Cleveland Indians.

And it wasn't his comments about David Ortiz that got everyone going.

"Well, once in a lifetime, when I played baseball, I used to hunt Indian. But now, I'm going to play tribute to the Indians," Martinez said on TBS following the game.

Martinez followed the statement by putting his hands to his mouthing, making a noise and gesture that is often offensive and stereotypical towards Native Americans. 

The former starting pitcher was presumably talking about his time on the Red Sox, when the team played against the Indians during the American League Division Series in 1998 and 1999. 

The video was first grabbed and reported by Deadspin

While, Martinez co-hosts laughed at the gag, not many Twitter users found it funny:



Photo Credit: AP
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Khan Responds to Trump's Debate

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Khizr Khan, the father of fallen Gold Star recipient U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, said Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's use of his son's name during Sunday's debate was "disgraceful."

During the town hall debate in St. Louis, Trump said if he were president, Humayun Khan would still be alive because he would not have had troops in Iraq. The comment came during discussion about Islamophobia during the debate with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Khizr Khan and his wife, Ghazala, were speakers during the Democratic National Convention and lashed out at the GOP candidate for invoking their son's death during the debate.

"Disgraceful comment. It is total no empathy, not only for Capt. Humayun Khan. He died for a purpose," Khizr Khan told News4. "For this candidate to say, 'Had I been the president, they would be alive,' is such a disgrace."

The Khans issued a statement to NBC News on Monday, saying, "We know that our son, Captain Humayun Khan, is an American hero. We also know that Donald Trump is not telling the truth when he says he was against the Iraq war. Our son served this country with honor and distinction, and gave the ultimate sacrifice. The only thing that Donald Trump sacrifices is the truth."

Capt. Humayun Khan was deployed in Iraq and died in 2004. He was from Silver Spring, Maryland.

Chicago Teachers Won't Hold Strike

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At the razor's edge of the midnight deadline for a threatened teachers strike, the Chicago Teachers Union announced Monday that it has come to a potential contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools.

Heading into the final hours of negotiations, the CTU revealed a “tentative agreement” was reached, though plans for a strike are not entirely off the table.

The agreement still needs to be voted on by union members.

Late last month, the union's governing body announced plans to strike on Tuesday, Oct. 11, after teachers voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike this month.

The union said 95 percent of members voted in favor of a strike amid an ongoing contract battle with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Board of Education.

“This should come as no surprise to the Board, the mayor or parents because educators have been angry about the school-based cuts that have hurt special education students, reduced librarians, counselors, social workers and teachers’ aides, and eliminated thousands of teaching positions,” the union said in a statement.

The contract battle has been going on for months.

Striking points include funding for teachers and schools. The district’s latest offer included raises, but asked teachers to pay more towards pensions and health care. Instead, the Chicago Teachers Union wanted the city to use surplus tax increment dollars to fill the financial gaps.

Monday morning, Chicago parents who support the teachers marched through Emanuel’s Ravenswood neighborhood with signs and banners in a final push to stop the strike and keep students in school.



Photo Credit: Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images

65-Year-Old Oxford Man Reported Missing Has Died: Police

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A 65-year-old Oxford man who was missing for more than a week died at a local hospital after he was found in a hotel room, police said.

Ernest Gazdik had been missing since Sept. 30 and police said he was found at a Stratford hotel on Oct. 3 and was pronounced dead at Bridgeport Hospital.

Police believe he died of a medical issue and said no foul play is suspected. 



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Christie: Trump Tape 'Indefensible,' But I Still Back Him

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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he was "really disturbed" by the predatory comments Donald Trump made about women a decade ago, but he is still supporting the Republican nominee for president. 

Christie had been mum on the matter since the video was released late last week, but broke his silence Tuesday as he co-hosted WFAN's "Boomer & Carton" sports radio show with Craig Carton. 

"It's completely indefensible and I won't defend it and haven't defended it," Christie said. "That kind of talk and conversation even in private is just unacceptable." 

The Republican governor revealed he was with Trump when Trump found out about the video leak. Christie said he does not believe Trump's apology -- where the former reality television star referred to his past comments as "locker room banter" and said he was embarrassed by them -- was sufficient. 

He acknowledged that the content of the video is "a little tough to explain" when you have kids and said it was not "immaterial" in deciding who to vote for, but that it should not be the only factor on Election Day. 

"I'm really upset about what I heard but in the end this election is about bigger issues than that," Christie said. "I'm still supporting Donald. Obviously I was disappointed by what happened and disappointed in some respects by the response initially but I am still supporting him." 

The issue of the video took center stage at Sunday's presidential debate, dominating social media discussion and overshadowing concerns about domestic policy and foreign relations. 

Meanwhile, a reeling Republican party is struggling to deal with the backlash. Forty Republican senators and congressmen have revoked their support for Trump — with nearly 30 of them calling on him to quit the race altogether in recent days. Few were passionate Trump supporters to begin with, the last straw being the video in which the candidate denigrated women. 

House Speaker Paul Ryan told fellow lawmakers on Monday he would not campaign for or defend the floundering businessman in the election's closing weeks. But the head of the Republican National Committee declared he was in full coordination with the embattled presidential nominee — opposing positions that highlight a political party increasingly battling itself as Election Day approaches.



Photo Credit: AP

Investigation Underway Into Cause of Fire in East Hartford

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Firefighters responding to a fire at a business in East Hartford early Tuesday morning found a broken window and crews are investigating what caused the blaze. 

Someone who was passing by Ellis Appliance at 1549 Main St. saw fire and contacted the fire department around 12:50 a.m., according to police. 

Crews arriving at the scene found a broken window and fire inside the business. 

Police said it appears the fire was set inside the building, possibly by something thrown through the window, but the cause is under investigation. 

The fire did minor damage and firefighters extinguished it quickly.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

First Lady Champions Education on 'Day of the Girl'

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Michelle Obama will continue her advocacy for girls’ education by hosting a Skype discussion on the subject on Tuesday, NBC News reported.

The conversation will revolve around challenges of accessibility in education faced by girls around the world. Glamour’s editor-in-chief, Cindi Leive is partnering with the first lady to host the event, which is part of the United Nation’s International Day of the Girl. Girls around the world are invited to participate by sharing their stories and goals on Skype and on Facebook Live.

Obama has long been vocal about girls’ access to education. She and President Barack Obama started the worldwide “Let Girls Learn” initiative earlier this year, in an effort to increase awareness and ensure girls the right to an education.



Photo Credit: AP, File

Sen. John McCain: I Can't Vote for Trump or Clinton

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Sen. John McCain said he might write in his "old, good friend" Sen. Lindsey Graham for president when he casts his ballot next month, because he can't bring himself to vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.

McCain was asked about his shifting position on Trump's candidacy as he sparred with his Democratic challenger for Arizona's U.S. Senate seat during their first debate Monday night.

McCain was asked why, after Trump's many controversies and personal attacks, including on himself, he hadn't withdrawn his endorsement until this weekend when a 2005 video surfaced of Trump bragging about groping women.



Photo Credit: AP

CT House GOP Leader Won't Commit to Voting for Trump

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Rep. Themis Klarides, not only the highest ranking Republican in the Connecticut House, but the highest ranking female in the entire General Assembly said Monday that she won't commit to voting for Donald Trump.

During an interview at her office, Klarides, said, "My vote is my vote and I don’t think that that’s a conversation but I will not be voting for Hillary Clinton."

Klarides initially endorsed Ohio Governor John Kasich during the state's presidential primary back in April, but later attended the Republican National Convention as a delegate for Trump.

Trump, who held three campaign visits in Connecticut during the primaries, walked to an easy primary victory in the Nutmeg State on his way to the nomination.

Klarides said the comments that came to light over the weekend, and were a consisten topic during last night's debate, were disgusting, but said shouldn't define the race.

"I think whether we have a daily conversation about Donald Trump making offensive comments or we have a conversation about Hillary Clinton allowed herself to be disrespected for years and years with her philandering husband. I don’t like either one of those things," she said.

On the issue of bringing up decades-old accusations against former President Bill Clinton and his improprieties while both in the White House, and in the Arkansas Governor's Mansion, she said, "I think it’s old news, all of it."

The prize for Connecticut Republicans in the Fall would be to win the House or Senate in the General Assembly. Based on competitive seats, it appears the Senate is more likely, though Klarides points out the party has had success across the board, even in elections where Democrats have won statewide offices.

"In the past three election cycles we have beaten 27 Democrats in the House and that was in Obama years and a year where Dan Malloy won reelection," she said. 

Klarides doesn't think Trump and the firestorm of bad press he's created will have an impact on down-ballot races. She says voters know the difference between the name at the top of the ticket, and those further down.

"People vote for the person. They do not connect anyone to Donald Trump. I don’t think they connect anybody with Hillary Clinton. I think people will vote for the people they know, particularly in a House or Senate race where you are able to knock on five, six, seven thousand doors."



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Trump's Va. Campaign Chair Fired for Protest Outside RNC

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Donald Trump's presidential campaign did one of the things the Republican candidate is best known for, firing his Virginia campaign chairman for leading a protest outside the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., News4 confirmed.

Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart confirmed for News4 he was fired over the protest Monday. He said he knew the risk going into the protest but felt it was important to do.

"I stood up to the RNC today. I stood up to the Republican establishment," Stewart told News4. "They threatened to fire me and they made good on that threat."

He remains loyal to Trump.

"Tons of interviews today on behalf of Mr. Trump," Stewart posted on Facebook Monday afternoon. "Then, I went to start a rebellion against GOP establishment pukes who betrayed Trump."

The protest was organized after several Republican politicians withdrew their support of Trump following the release last week of audio from 2005 of the candidate making vulgar remarks about women.

Stewart singled out Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-10th District), who called on Trump to withdraw and is in a tough reelection fight in northern Virginia herself.

"He might not be very popular in McLean and parts of Fairfax County where she lives, but I think she is misunderstanding her district. I really do," Stewart said.

Comstock did not respond to requests for comment.

Veteran Virginia Republican Bobbie Kilberg, who supports Comstock and has worked with three Republican presidents, said she's not supporting Trump either.

"I think that we have crossed the line and that enough's enough," she said.

Stewart, who is raising money to run for governor of Virginia, posted details about the protest on Facebook Sunday, writing that Republican women in Virginia helped organize a demonstration in support of Trump at the RNC at 2 p.m. Monday. He included the address of the RNC and the closest Metro station.

"While this turn of events is disappointing, I support the Trump campaign's decision to remove their Virginia chairman," Republican Party of Virginia Chairman John Whitbeck said. "With less than a month until Election Day, we can't afford any distractions."


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Water Rescue Ends in Madison

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The search for missing boaters in Clinton, Westbrook and Madison is over and police said there was a warrant for the arrest of one of the two boaters. 

Two people in a disabled boat called authorities for help around 5 a.m. Tuesday and Clinton firefighters and police, as well as the Coast Guard and Westbrook Fire Department were involved in the search. 

Emergency crews found the boat in Madison and brought the two people to shore at the Clinton town dock, where they were evaluated in an ambulance, but refused treatment. 

One of the boaters placed in handcuffs and put in the back of a cruiser, but has not been arrested.

No additional information was immediately available. 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Playful Polar Bear Cub Loves Ice Pool

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This cub can't get enough of her ice cube pool. Nora, the baby polar bear, dives, wiggles and rolls in the cold cubes in a temporary behind-the-scenes section of the zoo. She was born at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio, but when her mom rejected her, she was transferred to the Oregon Zoo in Portland. Zoo keepers plan for Nora to make her big public debut later this month.

Photo Credit: Oregon Zoo

Cancer Patient Mistaken for Murder Suspect, Handcuffed

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An Idaho woman battling breast cancer said she was wrongfully handcuffed and accused of being a murderer at a busy Port Falls Walmart. Already frail and feeling weak from her treatments, she said the process was not only painful but also "humiliating." Peters said she was running a few errands at a Walmart after leaving a radiation appointment. She said law enforcement approached her from behind and put her in handcuffs. "I honestly thought I was being mugged," she said.

Traffic Getting By on I-95 South in Milford

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Only the right shoulder was getting by on Interstate 95 South in Milford after two tractor-trailers crashed, but all lanes are now open.

Police are urging drivers to reduce speed when approaching the area of the crash, which happened near exit 36. 

Minor injuries are reported and there are heavy delays.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Yale Apologizes for Depiction of Native Americans on Program

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Yale University Athletics has apologized for the controversial artwork on the cover of the football program from Saturday’s game against Dartmouth College. 

The cover features previous game day programs with the unofficial Native American mascot Dartmouth dropped decades ago for being racially insensitive. 

“We are truly sorry for the hurt this program cover caused, particularly for those from Native American communities,” Yale Athletics said in a statement on Sunday. “Yale Athletics is committed to representing the best of Yale and upholding the University's values, especially respect for all.” 

As the Yale Bulldogs won their first game of the season, the program commemorating the school’s 100th game against its Ivy League rival circulated in the Yale Bowl stands.

“It’s very clearly caricatures of native people, right, like that’s not what native people look like,” Kodi Alvord, a Yale senior, said. 

Alvord said he attended the game to support Native American students in the band, but he did not see the cover. 

Soon after, he received an email from the director of the Yale Native American Cultural center. 

“She really wanted to make sure we’d seen it,” he said. 

Alvord described his initial reaction to the controversial artwork as surprised. 

“I thought this was an issue that had been settled a while ago, Dartmouth retired it,” he said. 

Alvord said he is disappointed in his university “for propagating imagery that has already been deemed inappropriate for a space that claims to be about intellectual discussion and accurate history.” 

The executive director for the Yale Indigenous Performing Arts program Mary Kathryn Nagle tweeted, “Cannot believe that @Yale & #Dartmouth would use such dehumanizing images of #Redface at a football game.” 

“We apologize for [Saturday's] football game program cover that included historic artwork of insulting portrayals of indigenous people, images that we have long considered to be a violation of our values of mutual respect, equality, and decency,” the Yale Athletics statement said, “ We did not intend to perpetuate these portrayals or condone them.” 

Alvord said the Native American community at Yale scored a victory Monday. In a campus-wide email, Yale President Peter Salovey recognized the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day, not just Columbus Day.

“I don’t think it came from a malevolent place,” Alvord said of the decision to publish the football program cover. “I think it came from a very widespread sense of ignorance about native people, most people don’t know what it’s like to exist as an indigenous person.”



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Man Accused of Abusing Puppy Arrested 3 Times in 3 Hours

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A Plymouth, CT, man who is accused of abusing a puppy was arrested three times in three hours Monday, according to Thomaston police.

Police first arrested 45-year-old Ronald Boivin, of Plymouth, just before 5 p.m. Monday after receiving reports of a drunken man abusing an 8-week-old puppy in the area of 310 South Main St.

Animal control responded and took the puppy.

Police issued Boivin a misdemeanor summons for cruelty to animals and released him on a promise to appear, according to police.

Before police even left the area, they saw Boivin cursing in public about the original complainants, so they charged him with second-degree breach of peace and he was released on a $1,000 bond and ordered not to return to 310 South Main St, police said.

Police again responded to 310 South Main St. just after 7:30 p.m. when Boivin returned to the property and they arrested him again and charged him with first-degree criminal trespass.

He posted the $1,000 bond and is due in court on Oct. 24.



Photo Credit: Thomaston Police
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