A 25-year-old Pennsylvania man has been arrested, accused of stabbing his friend in Hamden.

Hamden Police responded to a home on Fourth Street around 8:14 p.m. on Monday and found
Geoffrey Golding, 24, suffering from stab wounds to the abdomen and arm.

Golding was treated, then transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital with serious injuries.

Police investigated and said Golding’s friend, Kevin Jackson, was staying at Golden’s home and knocked over and over again on the bedroom door.

When Golding answered the door, Johnson stabbed him several times, police said.

Golding‘s girlfriend and two small children were there at the time, locked themselves in the bedroom and called police, police said.

Jackson ran from the home and New Haven police arrested him for attempting to steal a machete from Walmart, police said.

He was then turned over to the custody of Hamden Police and charged with first-degree assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor.

Jackson, who was detained on a $500,000 bond is scheduled to appear in court in Meriden on February 25.
 

Hamden police have arrested a woman accused of driving under the influence and hitting a pedestrian, as well as a police cruiser.

Hamden Police Officer Stephen Phipps was assisting the driver of a disabled car near Whitney Avenue and Ives Street around 1 a.m. on Sunday when the crash happened.

The police vehicle lights were activated when Carol Brignola, 53, of Bethany, was driving north on Whitney Avenue and hit the back of it, police said.

Officer Phipps and the driver of the disabled vehicle, Robert Gibson, 46, of Hamden, were standing nearby and the impact of the crash forced the police vehicle forward, striking Gibson, his vehicle and a Wheeler’s tow truck.

Gibson was treated at the scene for a leg injury and transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police conducted a field sobriety check on Brignola, which she failed, police said.

She was arrested, transported to Hamden Police Headquarters and refused to submit to a breathalyzer test.

Brignola was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, detained on a $1,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Meriden on February 27.

 

A heartfelt message written in the snow atop a hospital parking garage Monday was the work of a 14-year-old boy and his family, who were sending the message to his mother after she was diagnosed with leukemia.

William Hart was on his way to visit his mother at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago when he came up with the idea of writing her a message in the snow.

He and his father stamped out the words "Hi Mom," with a smiley face in the "O" of Mom, in the snow on top of the hospital's parking garage, which was visible from his mother's room.

He called his mom and told her to look out her window, where he stood waving in the middle of the snowy note.

After the family's visit, William and other members of his family decided to write a message to all the patients at the hospital.

They began to stomp out the words "God Bless U All" but ran out of room, leaving just the words "God Bless U."

Angela Washek, a surgical intensive care unit nurse at the Chicago hospital, said she saw four people on the garage's roof at 1 a.m. Monday and quickly realized they were writing a message.

A photo of the snow-stamped note was posted to the hospital’s official Twitter account Monday, and was also sent to NBC Chicago.

We love this message atop the Rush parking garage, evidently intended for a patient across the street. pic.twitter.com/4wkxwWeZ1l

— RushU Medical Center (@RushMedical) February 10, 2014

While the message may have been left unfinished, it still managed to put smiles on more than just one face that night.

When young Leanne Phan wrote a peppy letter to Olympian Jamie Anderson, of Tahoe, the 7-year-old from Northern California had no idea what would happen next.

After winning gold in the first slopestyle snowboarding competition in Sochi, Anderson tweeted out how much she loved Leanne’s letter -  which the second grader sent to her from Baker Elementary School in San Jose. 

“The most precious letter from a little girl named Leanne,” Anderson, 23, tweeted on Tuesday after her weekend win.

Leanne - a shy girl with pigtails - found out about the tweet a few hours later from an NBC Bay Area reporter.

“And she just jumped up and down,” Principal Anne Doumanian said. “We told her that part of the reason Jamie won gold was because of her nice letter.”

MORE: Jamie Anderson Shares "Precious" Letter From Calif. 2nd Grader

The letter oozes with 7-year-old cuteness.

Besides telling Anderson how proud she is of her and that she should rub an enclosed "penny to get good luck,” each word is separated by handmade stars, colored in blue, purple,  pink and red. The good luck penny with the class mascot, a bear, is stuck to the letter with tape.

“It is such a cute letter,” Leanne’s father, Dong Phan, an electrical engineer, told NBC Bay Area on Tuesday after dropping his daughter off at school.

He said his entire family – including children, Darin, 12, and Lorin, 4 – love the Olympics. Soccer is his favorite sport, since he is a native of Vietnam, he said. But his children? “They love everything.”

Leanne’s teacher, Debbie Pavlos, also loves everything about the Olympics.

“I’m Greek,” she said, asking rhetorically if she needed to say more? Her father took the family on trips to Olympia, Greece, when she was young. In fact, in 2002, Pavlos' class got so involved in the Olympics that year, they were invited to be part of the official Olympic torch relay, which passed by the Tech Museum in San Jose.

It was a member of that class – Zach McGrew, 19 – who came back to visit Pavlos’ second graders at the end of January. He remembered sending good luck pennies and writing letters to Olympians when he is in second grade. And so, he visited his old classroom, bringing with him a snowboard.

That was the snowboard that Leanne got to ride with fake snow in the background, and which inspired her to research Anderson and write the history-making Olympian a letter.

While a little bit tongue-tied during an interview on Tuesday, Leanne did have something to say to her new snowboarding idol: "Congratulations on your gold medal."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Zach McGrew is the son of  NBC Bay Area business and tech reporter, Scott McGrew. NBC Bay Area's Alan Waples contributed to this report.

A neighbor and a firefighter rescued a Mystic couple from a house fire this morning.

The fire broke out at 392 Noank Road in Mystic before 10 a.m. and neighbors who saw it called for help.

"I looked out the window and saw huge flames coming out the back, which is their family room, and I just thought, I'd better call 911," said Jane Francis, who lives next door.

Neighbors saw the couple trapped on the back deck and the male resident yelled the garage door code to a neighbor, who sprang into action and opened the door so the man could escape.

Firefighters rescued the woman from the deck. A dog also made it out safely.

The couple is OK. Officials said they were sleeping when the fire broke out.

The State Police Fire Marshal's Office is investigating to determine the cause of the fire.

"There's no reason to believe that it's anything other than accidental," said Mystic Fire Chief Fritz Hilbert.

The house is heavily damaged, especially in back.

"It was kind of like a sunroom, or den, off the rear of the house, and that has a lot of structural damage, but the house is pretty heavily damaged throughout," said Hilbert.

The couple is staying with relatives in town, Hilbert said.
 

A 22-year-old Uncasville man was killed in a crash on on Route 354 in Colchester and he road will be closed until noon as police investigate.

Police have identified the man as Charles Malloy, of Gay Hill Road in Uncasville.

He lost control of a Chevy Silverado around 2:30 a.m., went off the road and hit a Connecticut Light & Power pole, severing it in half, police said.

Malloy's car rolled over and landed on the hood.  

Power lines are running across Route 354, or Parum Road, and it is closed near Macklyn Drive.

The road will be closed between Stanavage and Dutton roads until at least noon, according to police

Malloy was alone in the car at the time of the crash.

If you are traveling through the area, use Route 85 or McDonald Road.

 

New Haven Police have taken a 17-year-old high school student suspected in an armed robbery at the Van Dome Nightclub into custody.

Police responded to the club at 102 Hamilton Street just after 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 after the club owner reported that he’d been assaulted and robbed at gunpoint.

Police said thousands of dollars were reported stolen and the club owner had a broken nose, facial bruises and lacerations.

The victim said he went to answer the club’s back doorbell and saw someone he thought was a bar-back wearing a black facemask.

The teen shoved the door open, pushed his way inside, brandished a pistol and demanded money, according to police.

The club owner said he knocked the gun from the robber’s hand and the two fought.

The teen struck the owner with a bar stool, pulled out his pocket knife and forced the owner to give him money from the safe, police said.

The robber then used a spray bottle of cleaning fluid to clean up some blood from the floor and took a component of the club’s surveillance system before fleeing, police said.

The club owner sought medical treatment before being speaking with police, told authorities he knew who the robber was and handed over his employee file, police said.

Police collected evidence collected, including the face mask the robber left at the scene and video surveillance of the robbery that was captured by many other cameras connected to the club’s system.

Police said the 17-year-old suspect lives in New Haven and relatives put him out as a missing person when detectives went to look for him.

The teen turned himself over at police headquarters on Monday.

He was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, second degree assault and first degree criminal mischief. Gun charges are pending.

Jurors will not have to report on Thursday, according to the state of Connecticut Judicial Branch.

All jurors scheduled for Thursday, February 13, are cancelled because of the forecast for inclement weather.

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A wintry mix to sleet and freezing rain is possible, with at least 6 inches of snow possible in the interior and especially the northwestern part of the state.

Check the forecast for updates.

The Bridgeport police officer who accidentally shot himself in the foot in a crowded bagel shop in December has been charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm.

According to police, on the morning of Dec. 17, Officer Juan Santiago was sitting at a table at Bagel King with three other Bridgeport Police Officers when he “mishandled” another officer’s pistol and shot himself in the left thigh.

Santiago was taken to St. Vincent’s Medical Center for treatment. His injuries were minor.

He turned himself in to Connecticut State Police and was arrested Feb. 10 following a joint investigation conducted by state police and the State’s Attorney’s Office.

Protestors rallied outside Bridgeport police headquarters on Dec. 23 to ask police to file charges against Santiago. The investigation began that day.

Santiago remains on administrative status with the Bridgeport Police Department.

“First, I would like to say we are grateful that the officer is recovering from his injury,” said Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett, Jr., in a statement. “We have said from the outset that we requested the State Police handle the investigation so the public would have confidence that it would be fair and unbiased. The State Police conducted a thorough investigation, consulted with the State’s Attorney’s Office and made a determination that we will respect.”

Santiago was released on a promise to appear and is due in court Feb. 18.

Route 6 has reopened in Bristol, according to police.

The road was closed at Clark Avenue for several hours after a utility pole began sparking Tuesday afternoon.

An alert from the state Department of Transportation said there wires had fallen across the road.

No additional information was immediately available. 

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Authorities are searching for the man who robbed a Bristol convenience store the morning of Feb. 4.

Police said a light-skinned man standing about 6 feet tall robbed the Milk Store at 104 Wolcott Street and are asking for the public’s help in identifying him.

He was wearing a black hat, jacket and pants and a blue or gray sneakers at the time, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bristol police at 860-314-4563.

A judge on Tuesday ordered two women to stand trial in a Southern California bar beating that left a 23-year-old woman dead.

Vanesa Tapia Zavala, 25, and Candace Marie Brito, 27, both of Santa Ana, are accused in the Jan. 18 beating of 23-year-old Annie Hung "Kim" Pham outside The Crosby Bar and Nightclub.

• LISTEN: 911 Tape Describes Chaos in Fatal Nightclub Beating

Pham was taken off life support and died two days later.

Zavala and Brito, who have pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, are scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 21.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Borris found sufficient evidence for the women to stand trial, despite arguments by defense attorneys that police rushed to judgment and had not yet interviewed a third "person of interest" in the case.

• Driver in Fatal SoCal Wrong-Way Crash Had Previous DUI

But defense attorney Michael Molfetta, who represents Brito, said it's not murder, but manslaughter because it was carried out in the heat of a fight.

"It was a powderkeg. That powderkeg exploded and, I think, if nothing else, we've proven in the last two days that Miss. Pham lit the match," Molfetta said after the hearing. 

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At the center of this case is a blurry cell phone video that the defense says proves Pham threw the first punch, a point prosecutors say doesn't matter.

Molfetta also contended that the lead investigator on the case, Santa Ana police Detective Leo Rodriguez, had not taken adequate steps to contact the remaining person of interest, who was identified in court as Amelia Avila.

He sarcastically suggested that Rodriguez use the State Bar website to find her attorney and chided him for trying to find her at home in the middle of the day.

Borris' ruling came at the end of an eventful two-day preliminary hearing that was briefly halted Monday when Detective Patricia Navarro testified that she wore a wire and posed as a jail inmate to get Zavala to discuss the attack.

After the revelation, Borris met with attorneys privately and sent Navarro home for the day. In court today, both sides stipulated that when Navarro was undercover in the jail, Zavala told her only that Pham hit her first and she was defending herself.

NBC4 Wire Services contributed to this report.

The Griswold man accused of stealing storm drain covers in Griswold, Lisbon and Plainfield is facing charges after reportedly confessing to the crime, police said.

Jeremy Gileau, of the Jewett City borough of Griswold, is accused of taking more than 60 storm drain grates, costing the towns thousands of dollars. Police said the thefts also pose a danger to the public because the openings were left uncovered.

According to police, Gileau admitted to stealing the grates.

He was arrested Feb. 10 on warrants out of Griswold and Plainfield.

Gileau is charged with first-degree larceny and reckless endangerment for the thefts in Griswold, along with second-degree larceny and reckless endangerment for the thefts in Lisbon.

He has not been charged in connection with the Plainfield thefts, but state police said they informed Plainfield police of the investigation and arrest.

Gileau’s bond was set at $1,500. He’s due in court Feb. 20 in Norwich.

Walking around the campus of Central Connecticut State University it's hard to miss the red flags dotting the snow-covered quad.

The message is also draped on buildings with signs reading, "Say something if you see a relationship flag."

This school is taking the issue of sexual assaults seriously.

"It is not only the victim that needs to speak up but we all need to speak up," said Rosa Rodriguez, CCSU Diversity Officer.

The Red Flag Campaign is a way for everyone on campus to get involved in reporting violence.

One sophomore said she recently helped her friend get the help she needed after being sexually harassed.

"I pretty much made the call for her and she was very grateful," the student said.

The issue of sexual assaults on college campuses came to light after seven UConn students came forward this past fall accusing their school of not protecting them from sexual assault.

UConn is in the process of making changes and now state legislators are looking to strengthen the laws already on the books.

They held a public hearing on Tuesday.

The bill would increase reporting requirements, training and services to victims.

"We need to look beyond rules and regulations and emphasize response," said Rep. Roberta Willis, the chair of the higher education committee.

Two Wesleyan University students have been arrested, accused of dealing drugs from a dorm room, and it appears both students have connections to the school’s football team.

Middletown police responded to 57 Foss Hill Drive, student housing at 5:52 p.m. on Saturday to investigate a report of narcotics in a student’s room, police said.

A residential advisor had filed a complaint with public safety officials about the strong smell of marijuana coming from a room and suspected drug dealing, according to police.

Two occupants, Shane Jenkins, of South Hamilton, Mass., and Matthew Polacek, 20, of Providence, R.I., denied having drugs or drug-related materials in the room, but when public safety said they would call police, the students handed over various items, including marijuana, a bong with marijuana residue, rolling papers and other drug-related material, police said.

Public safety then contacted Middletown police to report the incident.

The residential advisor told police that the whole situation had been going on awhile and stemmed from Jenkins and Polacek stealing shampoo from another student, police said.

After that, some students began noticing constant activity in and out of the dorm room. One student told authorities it was common knowledge that Jenkins and Polacek were dealing drugs out of the room, according to an arraignment report.

When Middletown police searched the room, they found another bag of a leafy green substance in a drawer and another bong, police said.

Jenkins and Polacek were arrested, brought to Middletown Police headquarters and book.

The Wesleyan football roster includes a listing for a Shane Jenkins from Hamilton, Mass. He is a sophomore on the offensive line.

There is also a photo of a Matt Polocek, of Providence, class of 2016 on the football page. He is not listed on the roster. 

NBC Connecticut left a message with the athletic director. It was not immediately returned.

They were released on $5,000 non-surety bonds and are due back in court on Feb. 14.

Jenkins and Polocek were charged with possession with intent to sell and possession of less than 4 ounces of a controlled substance.

Jenkins was charged with possession of marijuana paraphernalia and Polacek was charged with use of drug paraphernalia.


 
  

The woman who reached a $250,000 settlement with the City of San Diego in a civil lawsuit involving former embattled Mayor Bob Filner said she can now move on with her life knowing she and other victims of sexual harassment were truly heard and made a difference.

“I send my love and regards to the brave women who followed me into the public spotlight last summer and told their disturbing tales of about being sexually harassed by the former mayor. I know how difficult and harsh it was to go public against a figure who held the power of political office for so long,” said Irene McCormack Jackson, Filner’s former communications director. “Together, we made a difference. I stand in solidarity with you.”

TIMELINE: Mayor Under Fire

McCormack Jackson filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego in July 2013 alleging that Filner sexually harassed her several times while she worked as his communications director.

Among the accusations, the lawsuit alleged that Filner placed McCormack Jackson in the now-infamous “Filner Headlock,” forced kisses on her and told her to come to work without underwear on. He also told her he wanted to see her naked and couldn’t wait to consummate their relationship, according to the lawsuit.

McCormack Jackson was among the first women to publicly come forward with her story of sexual harassment at the hands of Filner in the scandal that rocked San Diego City Hall last summer and eventually led to Filner’s resignation.

On Monday, the City of San Diego announced it had reached a $250,000 settlement in McCormack’s civil lawsuit. The settlement was negotiated between City Attorney Jan Goldsmith and McCormack Jackson’s famed attorney, Gloria Allred.

The settlement holds the city – as McCormack Jackson’s employer – strictly liable for Filner’s actions. Goldsmith said Filner signed off on the agreement, releasing him and the city from further liability.

SPECIAL SECTION: Mayor Under Fire

On Tuesday, accompanied by Allred, McCormack Jackson held a press conference in San Diego to discuss her thoughts on the settlement.

McCormack Jackson said she was pleased with the agreement, and glad to move on with her life.
“It is a good morning for me. I’m glad to be bringing this chapter of my life to a close. I’m in a much better frame of mind. And it feels good,” said McCormack Jackson, smiling at her attorney.

McCormack Jackson said it’s “fitting” that approval for her settlement was announced the day before San Diego’s special election for a new mayor, as it also gives the city a fresh start.

She went on to thank her family, friends and attorney for all of their support during a time that took a serious “emotional toll” on her.

McCormack Jackson also thanked former city Councilmember Donna Frye, the woman who, alongside Marco Gonzalez and Cory Briggs, first brought the Filner sexual harassment scandal to light last summer and demanded the mayor’s resignation.

“I came through much stronger because of [Donna’s] friendship. Her last day at the mayor’s office was so sad for me, and starkly showed how obtuse and obstructive the office atmosphere was. Thanks for resigning, Donna. It showed me a way out,” she said.

Though it was scary for McCormack Jackson to go public with her accusations of Filner, she said the support she received from strangers on the streets of San Diego – including both women and men – gave her hope and made her feel validated during a difficult time.

“Your words of support gave me hope and helped me heal because you believed me,” she said. “To those who shared their stories of sexual harassment and abuse [with me], I believe you. There is nothing you did to provoke it. It just was. And I believe you.”

Allred also took a few moments to speak at Tuesday’s press conference regarding the settlement and McCormack Jackson, calling the agreement a “positive and fair solution.”

“This settlement is a vindication of Irene’s claims and it is an outstanding result for her,” said Allred. ”Irene is ready to move on with her life, without constant reminders in litigation of Filner. With this settlement, Irene can begin a new chapter in life.”

Allred called her client “a profile in courage” for taking the risk to share her story publicly.

The settlement, which will be paid in one lump sum from the city treasury, covers all of McCormack Jackson’s claims against Filner and attorney fees. The case had originally been scheduled to go to trial in February 2015.

McCormack Jackson is currently on unpaid leave and will officially leave city employment on Apr. 1, 2014, on her on will. On Tuesday, she said she wasn’t sure what the future had in store for her, but she wants her new endeavors to include writing and she wants her “work to be a benefit to others.”

Though McCormack Jackson’s case has been resolved, two other lawsuits involving Filner’s alleged sexual harassment are still pending against City of San Diego. One involves a city Parks and Recreation employee, while the other involves a Marine veteran and nurse.

In October 2013, Filner pleaded guilty to felony false imprisonment and two misdemeanor charges of battery.

In December, he was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement as punishment for the charges. He began serving the house arrest sentence on Jan. 1, 2014. Per his plea agreement, Filner was also placed on probation for the next three years and ordered to undergo mental health counseling.

A woman accused of driving under the influence and killing six people, including her sister, in a wrong-way crash on a Southern California freeway was convicted of drunken driving when she was 17 years old, according to California Department of Vehicles records.

Olivia Carolee Culbreath, 21, is accused of driving a red Chevrolet Camaro (pictured below) head-on into a Ford Explorer at more than 100 mph the morning of Feb. 9, investigators said. She was heading east on the westbound side of the Pomona (60) Freeway in Diamond Bar.

• Mother Killed, Daughter Hurt in Crosswalk Crash Near School

In 2009, when Culbreath was 16 years old, she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the California DMV. She was convicted in the case in April 2010 and her license was revoked.

Three months before her DUI conviction, Culbreath’s license was suspended because she had an excessive blood alcohol level. Under California vehicle code section 13353.2, that means any driver under 21 with a blood-alcohol concentration of .01 percent or greater.

• FBI Investigates Sex Crimes at 30,000 Feet

Because she had accumulated so many points on her license, Culbreath’s driving privileges were suspended on Aug. 4, 2010. That probation ended on Aug. 4, 2011, but because Culbreath failed to file proof of insurance in time, her license was ultimately reinstated on Dec. 20, 2011.

The most recent incident on her record is from November 2013, when Culbreath was ticketed for allegedly talking on a cellphone while driving. According to DMV records, that ticket is outstanding for failure to appear.

The 21-year-old’s license status is now valid and she has proof of insurance, records show. Aside from last week’s deadly crash, there are no other collisions listed in Culbreath’s driving record.

• Photos: Wrong-Way Crash on Pomona Freeway Leaves Six Dead

Culbreath is listed in serious condition with a fractured femur and ruptured bladder. She has been arrested on suspicion of felony drunken driving and felony manslaughter following the Sunday crash.

Six people were killed in the crash. The victims were identified Monday as Kristin Young, 21, of Chino; Maya Culbreath 24, of Rialto, who is the driver's sister; Gregorio Mejia-Martinez, 47; Leticia Ibarra, 42; Jessica Mejia, 20; and Esther Delgado, all from Huntington Park, according to the Coroner’s office Assistant Chief Ed Winter said.

After the initial impact a Ford Freestyle hit the Explorer. The driver of the Freestyle, Joel Cortez, survived the crash and was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center after complaining of pain.

Victim Maya Culbreath was the driver's sister. A woman who identified herself as the Culbreaths’ grandmother spoke with NBC4 briefly on Monday.

"We're grieving for all the families, all of them, not just ours," Carol Phillips said outside the driver's Fontana home. "So it's very hard to take."

A man from Danielson and two from Putnam are facing charges after a massive drug bust turned up 248 marijuana plants, more than 46 pounds of processed marijuana and $312,678 cash in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force launched an investigation in January after learning that a drug dealer known as “J” had been growing and selling a large amount of marijuana in Rhode Island and Connecticut.

“J” was later identified as 32-year-old Jeremy Corrao, of Danielson. He was arrested after police searched six Rhode Island locations and 613 Providence Pike in Danielson.

Police said five pounds of marijuana and $293,000 were seized from the home in Danielson.

Police said Corrao co-owned a growing operation in Glocester, R.I., with 29-year-old Ross Vance, of Woodstock. Vance has a criminal record in Connecticut and Massachusetts and is currently on supervised release, according to police.

Two Putnam residents, 32-year-old Timothy Warner and 29-year-old Christopher Goyette, were also arrested, accused of trying to smuggle 16 pounds of marijuana out of a home in Scituate, R.I. while police searched the area.

Corrao was charged with possession of more than 5 kg marijuana, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell. He was arraigned Feb. 10 and was held on bond pending a bail hearing.

Warner and Goyette were charged with conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act. Goyette was also charged with possession with intent to sell. Both appeared in court Feb. 10 and were released after posting $5,000 bond.

Connecticut State Police expect to make additional arrests.

An off-duty Wolcott police sergeant caught two copper thieves red-handed Monday afternoon, according to police.

Wolcott Police Sgt. Michael Christano was driving his personal car when he saw a man, later identified as 24-year-old Hivzo Redzepagic, taking copper out of a vacant house at 17 Forestview Drive and placing it into an SUV, according to police.

Christano questioned the man, who then jumped into the SUV and sped off, police said. The vehicle, driven by 23-year-old Aferdiate Zekiri, of Prospect, led Christano on a chase onto Spindle Hill Road in Waterbury.

Police said Christano was able to get the license plate of the SUV and tracked it to Zekiri’s residence.

Officers arrived at the home and arrested Zekiri. Redzepagic later turned himself in.

The copper stolen from 17 Forestview Drive was located in Naugatuck, police said.

Redzepagic was charged with sixth-degree larceny, third-degree burglary and third-degree criminal mischief. He has a criminal record and was held on a $20,000 bond before his arraignment Tuesday.

Zekiri was charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.

She was released on a $5,000 bond and will appear in court Feb. 20.

Danielle Coffill came home Friday evening to a crime scene ather house in Vernon.

There was no sign of forced entry and the doors were locked, but the Coffills began noticing items were gone and a window was unlocked.

"As the night went on, we noticed more and more things missing," said Coffill.

Power tools were taken, and a stolen laptop had to be replaced.

The thief even swiped $8 from the change jar. Nearly $2,000 worth of items were gone just like that in the middle of the day with their neighbor on the second floor home the entire time.

"It makes me think someone would come in even if we were home," said Coffill.

With news that convicted felon Luis Galan, who'd been on the run for two months, was arrested on Monday after attempting to steal from a home half a mile away, they hope there's a connection because knowing their thief was behind bars would bring them peace of mind.

"Just give us closure, especially for the kids because they think someone's going to come back," said Coffill.

Police say they're looking into that possibility and that the investigation is ongoing.