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Man Was Part of Organized Prescription Drug Ring: Cops

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Glastonbury police have arrested an East Haven man accused of using a fake Oxycodone prescription at a Glastonbury CVS in August 2012.

Police said he was part of an organized group that used stolen prescriptions to obtain narcotics throughout the state.

Peter Dudeck, 30, of East Haven, was arrested on an active arrest warrant in Glastonbury after he was stopped and detained by the North Haven Police Department for an unrelated traffic violation, police said.

Dudeck was charged with second-degree forgery, possession of narcotics and obtaining a narcotic substance by fraud.

Bond was set at $20,000.

He is due in court in Manchester today.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Man Accused of Assaulting Child Had Prior Record: Cops

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A Clinton man arrested this morning under suspicion of sexually assaulting a child had committed similar crimes in the 1970s and 1980s, according to police.

William Motta Sr., 67, of Glenwood Road in Clinton, was arrested after a four-month investigation.

Police said the victim was an acquaintance of Motta and the assault occurred at Motta’s home.

While Motta had been convicted for the same type crime in the 1970s and 1980s, the victim’s parents were not aware of Motta’s previous convictions because he is not on the sex offender registry.

The reason, according to police, is that the prior assaults happened before the state had a sex offender registry statute.

Megan’s Law requires that sex offenders register with police and notify officers when they change addresses and Connecticut’s version went into effect in 1995.

Motta has been charged with sexual assault in the first degree, second-degree unlawful restraint and risk of injury in the recent case.

He was held on a $500,000 court-set bond and is due in Middletown Superior Court. today
 



Photo Credit: Clinton Police

Alert for Naugatuck Woman Canceled

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Naugatuck police have canceled and alert for a 54-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with dementia.

Police issued an alert just before noon on Monday saying Evelyn Curtis was last seen around noon on Sunday on Cherry Street in Naugatuck. About an hour later, police canceled the alert.



Photo Credit: Naugatuck Police

2 Bodies Found in Car in Lebanon

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Two bodies have been found in a car on Smith Road in Lebanon, according to state police.

Someone passing by found the car running at Smith Road and Route 207 at 8:50 a.m., saw two people who appeared to be in distress and notified state police.

State police said a male and a female were in the car. They do not how long the bodies have been there.

There were no immediate signs of foul play and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct autopsies, authorities said.

Police said they are withholding the people's names because they are notifying family.

The road was closed as police investigated, but it has since reopened.
 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Groton Restaurant Burglary Could be Part of Crime Spree

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Police are investigating the burglary of a pizza restaurant in Groton and say the incident may be connected to similar crimes in neighboring towns.

Groton police said Midway Pizza on Fort Hill Road was closed when at least one suspect broke into the restaurant overnight March 10 and stole an unknown amount of cash.

Similar burglaries have been reported at restaurants in East Lyme, Stonington, Westerly, R.I. and Hopkinton, R.I. and police are investigating to determine whether the incidents are connected.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Groton Town Police Department at 860-441-6712.

High School Intern Gave Teen Booze for Party: Cops

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The case has been continued for a Meriden man accused of giving alcohol to a 15-year-old student at Southington High School, where he interned.

Police said Steven F. Bucchieri, 26, of Meriden, gave the female student alcohol on Halloween, when he was assigned as an intern at the high school. He's also accused of exchanging inappropriate text and Facebook messages with the teen.

The student told police Bucchieri had been a substitute teacher in her math and biology classes and that the two began talking on Facebook about a week before Halloween, according to the application for an arrest warrant dated Feb. 27.

The teen said Bucchieri delivered peach-flavored vodka to her house, which she brought to a party later that night, according to the warrant application.

Bucchieri was arrested the afternoon of Feb. 28 and charged with sale or delivery of alcohol to a minor. The warrant application also sought to charge him with risk of injury to a minor.

The student told investigators the two had communicated via Facebook and text message and had talked about drinking, smoking marijuana and having sex, according to the arrest warrant application.

Police said there was no physical relationship reported between the student and Bucchieri.

Bucchieri was placed on leave and is no longer an intern at the high school. Police said he was an intern from the University of Bridgeport.

When the high school principal asked why Bucchieri delivered alcohol to the student, Bucchieri denied having done so, then said he gave her lemonade in an alcohol container, according to the application.

Southington police began investigating after the student spoke with a school administrator about the incident. The administrator then notified police.

The student's father told police he knew his daughter had attended a Halloween party but did not know she had been provided alcohol. He said the school informed him of the incident involving Bucchieri.

Bucchieri posted a $10,000 court-set cash bond. 

He was due in court March 10 but the case was continued until April 10.
 



Photo Credit: Southington Police Department

Feds Probe Port Authority Chair

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The chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is being investigated for possible conflicts of interest, sources tell NBC 4 New York.

Law enforcement officials confirm David Samson, a lawyer and ally of Gov. Chris Christie, is being investigated by the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan and the FBI.

His name emerged in the news in January, when The Bergen Record reported that as Port Authority chairman he backed a plan to renovate a train station located closed to a planned housing complex proposed by a builder represented by his law firm.

The Port Authority had no immediate comment.

Samson was also recently pulled into the scandal engulfing Christie's administration over traffic jams near the George Washington Bridge. 

His name surfaced in an email during the lane closures, when a Christie ally at the Port Authority emailed a then-Christie aide, noting that the jams had been cleared up.

"We are appropriately going nuts. Samson helping us to retaliate," the email said.

Samson has denied any involvement in the scheme.

 

 

 



Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

NYC Boy, 11, Rode Subway for 5 Days

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An 11-year-old Brooklyn boy who disappeared five days ago was found Monday riding the subway in Manhattan, and he said that's where he had been for most of the time he was missing.

"It was a very big world," Kareem Granton told reporters shortly after reuniting with his family. "I didn't think I would probably make it."

Granton, who had last been seen walking out of a friend's house last Wednesday after playing video games, said he "just had a tantrum in the moment, a type of anger problem."

"So I just wanted to express it in a different way," he said.

He said he spent nights on the train and ate at Chuck E. Cheese, and was not aware anyone other than his mother would have been looking for him. A community advocate who knows the family said he had about $10 on him when he was found Monday.

Granton had a history of running away, but never for this long, his family said.

Granton was found in the Union Square subway station shortly after morning rush hour when a rider notified police that she had seen a boy who fit the description of a missing child.

Police said a transit officer and his police dog, Dakota, boarded the train and approached Granton. Police said one of the reasons the boy stayed calm was because he was able to pet the German shepherd.

The officer, Dennis Grimm, said Granton "looked tired and hungry" when police found him.

The friend who last saw him, Eric Steward, said he and Granton went to his apartment in their building even though Granton was supposed to go straight home from school. At some point, Granton said it was time for him to go and asked Steward to see if anyone who knew his mother was in the hallway.

“He was like, ‘Well it’s time for me to go, can you check the hallway and make sure there’s nobody that knows me that can tell my mom that I'm here?’” said Steward, 13. “So I did, and he went down the staircase.”

 


Police Warn of Property Rental Scam

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Bristol police are warning residents of a scam in which would-be renters are asked to mail out a security deposit in exchange for keys to the residence, which are never received.

Police said residents looking to rent a home call a contact number hoping to make the arrangements and are instructed to mail a $500 deposit to a P.O. box. Residents are led to believe that after the deposit is received, they property owner will send them the keys.

According to police, scam victims never receive keys to the residence and their deposit is not returned.

Anyone with information or who been targeted by the scam is advised to call police.

Naugatuck Man Facing Child Pornography Charges

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A 34-year-old man from Naugatuck is facing charges after police reportedly found child pornography in his possession.

Michael Maldonado, of Galpin Street in Naugatuck, was arrested March 5 and charged with child pornography. Police said Maldonado had downloaded and traded photos and videos depicting child pornography.

Maldonado’s bond was set at $50,000. He was due in court today.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Commission Chair Reflects on Talks With Peter Lanza

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In a revealing interview with The New Yorker, the father of Sandy Hook school shooter Adam Lanza opens up about his son and the tragedy.

"You can't get any more evil," Peter Lanza told reporter Andrew Solomon. "How much do I beat up on myself about the fact that he's my son? A lot."

Lanza broke his silence more than a year after the shooting that left 20 first graders and six educators dead. Adam Lanza's mother, Nancy, was also killed.

"The article certainly reflects the person that I've spoken to three or four times," said Scott Jackson, Hamden mayor and Chairman of the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission.

Jackson has talked with Lanza in preparation for the panel's final report on the shooting. A big piece of the report will focus on improving the mental health system.

"If you read The New Yorker piece, you get a sense that there is a family that doesn't know quite what to do," said Jackson.

Lanza spoke about his son's mental state.

"The social awkwardness, the uncomfortable anxiety, unable to sleep, stress, unable to concentrate, having a hard time learning, the awkward walk, reduced eye contact. You could see the changes occurring," said Lanza.

It's still unclear how his son's condition ultimately led to violence.

"Even mental health professionals aren't good at predicting who is going to be violent," said Dr. Caroyln Fallahi, a child psychologist and professor at Central Connecticut State University.

Peter Lanza told the reporter he wished his son had never been born, but he doesn't blame his ex-wife Nancy, who was taking care of Adam.

Dr. Fallahi believes people need better access to mental health services.

"It's very hard to find the right person, to get somebody to oversee these cases and follow through with the intensity like somebody Adam Lanza needed," she explained.

The Sandy Hook Advisory Commission has spent more than a year hearing from witnesses, family members and experts. Jackson expects the mental health recommendations to be the most challenging.

"The most complicated aspect is the delivery of mental health services," he said.

Jackson said the commission's recommendations will be out by the summer. Commission members are currently in the writing phase of the report.



Photo Credit: Today Show

DNA Testing Leads to New Britain Murder Charge

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The New Britain man accused of murdering his girlfriend in her apartment in January was arrested after DNA testing linked him to the crime, and police documents show there was a history of violence between the two.

Darren Davis, 48, is charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of 49-year-old Veronica Skinzera, his girlfriend. Skinzera was found dead Jan. 27 in the apartment she shared with Davis at 85 Spring Street.

Police said DNA testing led them to Davis. Investigators found three kitchen knives in a nearby dumpster, wrapped in towels and a shirt. Davis' DNA was found on the wrapping materials and the handle of a steak knife, authorities said.

He was arrested March 8 on Arch Street in New Britain.

Police said Skinzera and Davis had been living together for about a month and had a "tumultuous relationship which had deteriorated further" prior to Skinzera's death.

According to the application for Davis' arrest warrant, New Britain police responded to four domestic incidents between Davis and Skinzera between Dec. 8, 2013 and Jan. 22, 2014.

Investigators found Davis at a homeless shelter in Waterbury the night of Jan. 27, following the crime. He told police he had left his apartment Jan. 24 after an argument with Skinzera and never returned, according to the application.

Acquaintances of Davis later told police he had never left his apartment for an extended period of time, the application says.

Davis told police he was a recovering drug addict and that Skinzera tended to argue with him when she got high, according to the application.

"I feel really bad for her daughter, her ex-husband, I really do," said Davis' mother, Helen Newson, of Skinzera. "Our family shows them condolences, but we've never had anything like this happen in our family, ever."

Newson alerted police the day of the murder and said she was concerned because Davis had told her Skinzera "had someone that was going to kill him," according to the application.

The victim's ex-boyfriend, David Ladd, told police he had reconnected with Skinzera in November and that she had asked to stay with him prior to her death. He said Davis reportedly tried to assault Skinzera in an elevator and was angry that Ladd and Skinzera were communicating, according to the paperwork.

Prior to 1995, Davis was convicted of numerous other crimes involving drugs, assault and burglary. He's being held on $1 million bond and is due back in court March 24.

Anyone with information is asked to contact New Britain police at 860-826-3139 or 860-826-3120.



Photo Credit: New Britain Police Department

Unpaid Parking Tickets Pile Up in Torrington

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Put a quarter in a parking meter in Torrington and you get an hour of parking. Stay longer and you could get a $10 parking ticket.

Torrington authorities face nearly $300,000 in parking tickets they haven't collected over the last 20 years.

Some months they bring in more money from parking tickets than from parking meters, but sometimes they don't. Whatever is collected goes to the city government's general fund.

"When they tell us to stay up on our business, keep up on the laws while they change them regularly, and they come after us with huge fines if we don't, shame on them!" said Cynthia Starr, of Torrington.

Parking authorities give the Department of Motor Vehicles information about unpaid tickets. The DMV subsequently bars registration of those vehicles until the tickets are paid.

Torrington might be able to collect some of the unpaid tickets from recent years, said Jeff Lawton, but he didn't know how far back the city government could go.

"I imagine a lot of those people are probably no longer around," he said.

 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Third Suspect Arrested in Fatal Bridgeport Shooting

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Police have arrested a third person in connection with the September shooting that killed one and wounded four in Bridgeport.

It happened the afternoon of Sept. 10 outside the T Mart at Reservoir and Grandview avenues. LaChristopher Pettway, 26, died in the shooting. Juwan Edwards, 15, Aijaholn Tisdale, 19, Leroy Shaw, 15, and Tamir Hamilton, 19, were injured.

Police said Pettway did not appear to be the intended target.

Twenty-three-year-old Raashon Jackson is the third suspect to be arrested. He’s charged with murder, four counts of criminal attempt at murder, four counts of first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Another alleged gunman, 19-year-old Roderick “Riki” Rogers, was arrested Sept. 16, and 20-year-old David Anderson was arrested Sept. 25 and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Police said Anderson drove the gunmen to and from the scene.

All three suspects are behind bars.

“This crime shook our community to its core,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, in a statement. “These were convicted felons who never should have possessed guns in the first place, and they proceeded to fire into a crowd to settle a score. I want to thank the detectives who worked so hard on this case.”

The day after the shooting, police arrested 28-year-old Jalil Hill and said he may have been planning retaliation for the crime.

Hill was charged with criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle and carrying a pistol without a permit.



Photo Credit: Bridgeport Police Department

Hamden K-9 Dies of Pneumonia

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A Hamden police dog that spent the last six years locating illegal drugs and tracking down suspects has died of pneumonia.

Hunter died suddenly on February 20, according to police.

On Wednesday, the Hamden Police Department will hold a service for Hunter at the Hamden Elks Lodge, at 175 School Street. It will begin at 9 a.m.

He was born on May 30, 2005 in Hungary and brought to the United States as a police dog candidate. The department bought him from Renbar Kennels in New Milford.

Hunter worked with Officer Craig Appleby and the team had most recently been assigned to the day-shift in the patrol division.

Hunter was known in the community and performed for local students and civic organizations.

Anyone who wants to make a donation to help buy a new police dog can send donations to the Hamden Police Department, in care of the K-9 Unit.


 



Photo Credit: New Haven Register reporter Peter Hvizdak

New Police Chief Sworn in at CCSU

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New Britain native and former deputy police chief at Eastern Connecticut State University Gregory Sneed was sworn in as police chief at Central Connecticut State University today.

Sneed, 54, has served as deputy police chief at ECSU since 2009 and brings 30 years of law enforcement experience to the university, according to a release from CCSU.

He was sworn in during a ceremony held this afternoon.

According to the release, Sneed received his associate’s degree in criminal justice at Tunxis Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration at Charter Oak College. He received upper-level law enforcement training at the FBI National Academy in Virginia and underwent additional training in critical incident management and hostage and crisis negotiation.

Sneed began his career with the Middletown Police Department and went on to become the city’s acting deputy chief prior to his service at ECSU.

He succeeds former CCSU Police Chief Jason Powell, who retired in August.

“Chief Sneed possesses significant experience dealing with the problems and politics common to a university setting, as well as an impressive skill set developed through years of hands-on police work and management. To top it off, he knows the New Britain area. We are thrilled to have him join our team,” said Richard Bachoo, CCSU’s chief administrative officer and overseer of the Department of Public Safety, in a statement Monday.

Lt. Chris Cervonin has served as interim CCSU police chief since Powell's retirement.

Authorities Identify Mom, Daughter Killed in Fairfield House Fire

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Authorities have identified the woman and her disabled teenage daughter who died after an overnight house fire in Fairfield.

The victims are identified as 47-year-old Maureen Gerrity and 19-year-old Katherine O'Neill.

According to the Fairfield Fire Department, the fire broke out in the living room of a single-family home at 135 Crane Street just before 1 a.m. on Monday. Investigators believe the fire was accidental.

"When I opened the door, the flames were as high as the building," said neighbor Ruth Guglielmoni, who witnessed the blaze.

Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting from the front of the house.

Neighbors told firefighters two women were trapped inside.

Firefighters entered the home through a window. They found the victims in a second-floor bedroom, pulled them from the home and rushed them to Bridgeport Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

Officials said at least one of the victims died of smoke inhalation.

"The flames were so intense, they just couldn't make headway," Fairfield Fire Chief Richard Felner said of the firefighters at the scene. "When they were in there, they took a beating. They did everything they could."

Neighbors said the fire was the worst thing they've ever seen. Some ran over to help, but the smoke and flames were too intense. Firefighters said the flames spread to the attic, second floor and basement of the home.

Fire officials said they could only locate one smoke detector in the basement of the home.

"If they had smoke detectors, that might have saved their lives," Felner explained.

Carbon monoxide detectors were working.

Fairfield police, a Connecticut State Police Arson Investigation Unit, United Illuminating and the American Medical Response responded to the scene.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Measles Cases Reported in Connecticut

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Connecticut has two confirmed cases of measles in Farifield County, according to a spokesperson for the state Department of Public Health.

DPH spokesperson Bill Gerrish said one patient is an adult and the other is an infant. The cases are not related and their origins are unknown.

A letter sent to parents in the Region 14 school district advised parents of the cases. The letter, dated March 7, says school administrators were notified by the Pomperaug Health District. The towns of Bethlehem and Woodbury make up Region 14.

Gerrish said the first patient developed a rash Feb. 2. The second patient's rash broke out Feb. 12.

The incubation period for measles is 14 days on average. Measles cases are considered contagious from four days before the rash develops until four days after the rash goes away, Gerrish said.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that is spread through the air. Patients develop a rash all over the body, as well as a fever, cough and runny nose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children can develop complications such as an ear infection or pneumonia. In rare instances, measles can be deadly in children, according to the CDC.

Measles is easily transmitted and is so contagious that any child who is exposed to it and is not immune, will most likely develop the disease, according to the CDC.

There have been recent reports of measles outbreaks in neighboring states, including 16 people who tested positive for the disease in New York City last week.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

Steven Hayes Found Unresponsive in Prison Cell

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Convicted Cheshire triple-murderer Steven Hayes was found unresponsive in his prison cell on Monday morning.

Staff members found Hayes in his cell at Northern Correctional Institution in Somers around 9:30 a.m., according to the Department of Correction. He was the only inmate in the cell at the time.

Medical personnel performed live-saving measures and Hayes was rushed to the hospital. He is reported to be in stable condition, officials said.

Hayes is one of two men convicted in the 2007 murders of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela inside their Cheshire home.

He was convicted of the crimes and sentenced to death in November 2010.

The Department of Correction is investigating Monday morning's incident.



Photo Credit: Dept. of Correction

Man Charged With Kidnapping Woman in New Britain

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Police are investigating after a woman was reportedly kidnapped by the father of her child on Monday, sparking a police pursuit through New Britain and into Newington.

According to police, the scene unfolded around 5:15 p.m. March 10, when a woman was forced into a car at Kelsey Street and Rocky Hill Avenue in New Britain.

The driver, 23-year-old Xavier Vasquez, subsequently took off, police said. Officers tried to stop the car to no avail, then followed it onto Route 9. Vasquez reportedly led police onto Cedar Street in Newington and then back into New Britain.

Police said Vasquez struck at least one car while in Newington.

He finally stopped at Overlook and Farmington avenues in New Britain and was taken into custody after a brief struggle with police. The responding officers received minor injuries, police said.

Authorities said the female victim was found in the backseat unharmed. She and Vasquez have a child together.

Vasquez is a convicted felon and had two outstanding warrants at the time of the incident, both charging him with motor vehicle offenses including engaging officers in a pursuit, according to police. One warrant was dated Nov. 4, 2013 and the other was dated Dec. 13, 2013.

He was served both outstanding warrants and was additionally charged with second-degree kidnapping, engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with police and reckless driving.

Vasquez’s bond was set at a total of $400,300, including $350,000 from Monday’s incident, $50,000 for the December warrant and $300 for the November warrant.

Police said the woman is cooperating with investigators.



Photo Credit: New Britain Police Department
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