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Yale Students Rally in Support of Ferguson

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Dozens of people walked out of Yale University at 12:01 p.m. Monday to stand in solidarity with those in Ferguson, who are protesting a grand jury decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown.

Carleh Wilson led a march through downtown New Haven Monday for her brother, who she worries will become a victim of police discrimination.

"We shouldn't have to worry that my brother will be on his way to lunch, and he'll get stopped by police for no reason. My brother is an innocent human being, but he's black, so he's not innocent in the eyes of the law," said Wilson.

She and other students walked from downtown New Haven to city hall, chanting, "Hey hey, ho ho, killer cops have got to go" and carrying signs reading, "Stop racist police brutality."

"It's important that we advocate for reform in our criminal justice system so that everyone is protected equally, but it's also important, that right now, the nation is hurting. People in this community are hurting, and there needs to be healing for us as we continue in the fight," said Yale Divinity School student Allen Reynolds.

But even as the protesters cried out against police, New Haven officers escorted them along the way, shutting down the streets so the march could safely pass through.

"Before this started, I called the police and I said, 'We're going to be rallying. We want to have a peaceful protest. Can you help us?' That's why the police officers are helping. But if I hadn't called, I don't know what it would look like right now," said Wilson.

New Haven Police Chief Dean Esserman would only say his department's actions speak for themselves.



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Norwich Considers Changes to Parking Protocol

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Officials in Norwich are considering making changes to regulations governing the city's 1,000 parking spaces, including increasing the amount of time between when a ticket is issued and when it must be paid off.

"No one should ever get a ticket," said Pete Desaulniers, co-chairman of the Parking Commission. "Why they get tickets now is they park illegally, or they park too far from the curb."

A parking enforcement officer left tickets on windshields of two cars he said were up to three feet from the curb.

Under a change Desaulniers hopes city officials will approve, the owners would be granted two weeks to pay the fines. Another proposal would bring the fine for illegally parking in a handicapped spot up to the Connecticut minimum, $150.

Most parking spaces on the streets are good for two hours. Drivers can park in the Main Street Garage for up to four hours. The fine for parking longer is $5.

Desaulniers wants to make sure spaces are properly labeled and signage properly in place before considering a higher fine for overtime parking.



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Grant Money to Help Keep New Haven Kids Out of Trouble

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The state has awarded $500,000 to 23 non-profit organizations in New Haven through the Youth Violence Prevention Grant in hopes of keeping kids off the streets and sharpening their skills.

One of those recipients is Elephant in the Room Urban Youth Boxing in New Haven, which teaches young people not only about boxing but also about life.

“Last year, they only got $10,000, this year, they're getting $30,000 because they've demonstrated in a tough neighborhood that they can work with young people and keep them involved,” said Jason Bartlett, Director of Youth Services in New Haven.

He said each of the 23 grant recipients has its own programs with different goals and focuses. The grant money will go toward essential youth programs, engagement, peer mentoring and community mediation.

“It helps because in the non-profit world, it's not easy to get money. Even though people like to give money for youth, it's still very difficult, so what it does is it helps us leverage and collaborate and work together, get everyone on the same playing field in terms of what our goals and outcomes should be," Bartlett said.

The main goal is to keep New Haven's young people out of trouble.

“It's really important that young people that have young people have things that are positive and productive to do with their free time, and when they have that it reduces violence in our community,”’ said New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.

Wilbur Cross High Evacuated

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Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven has been evacuated because of a bomb threat this afternoon.

Police and school officials in New Haven said officials are searching the building.

An automated phone message was sent home to parents, according to officials from the school district.

"The Baby Was Burned Up": Bath Water Scalds 10-Month-Old

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A baby girl from Hartford suffered burns to more than 80 percent of her body when hot bath water scalded her Sunday afternoon.

Neighbors in the Asylum Hill neighborhood said a family friend was bathing the 10-month-old in the kitchen sink when something went very wrong.

"Next thing you know, he comes out screaming and hollering, and he wouldn't tell me what happened, so I came downstairs and the baby was burned up so I called 911," said Marie Simon, who lives upstairs.

First responders rushed the baby to Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford for treatment of first- and second-degree burns. Police said she's listed in stable condition.

"No one knows what happened to her," Simon said. "I don't know because I wasn't there."

According to Simon, the caretaker she he left the baby in the sink to grab a towel and came back to find her seriously hurt. But Simon, who often babysits the child, wondered if that was the whole story.

"The amount of burns on her, for her to be in the water, got to be a long time," Simon said.

No arrests have been made and police wouldn't say whether they expect to file charges.

"Obviously, it was presented as an accident from the onset. We would, as always, send in our detectives," said Deputy Chief Brian Foley. "We've identified everyone involved in the incident and the investigation is ongoing."

Authorities originally said the baby was transferred to the burn unit at Bridgeport Hospital but said later Monday she was still at Connecticut Children's.

New Toy Warnings Issued

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With the holiday shopping season in full swing, authorities are warning of potentially dangerous toys.

The consumer group Public Interest Research Group just released its annual "Trouble in Toyland" report and is encouraging parents to choose their children's toys carefully.

"There are still products out there that fail to meet these safety standards and some standards need to be made even stronger," explained Sean Doyle, of ConnPIRG, during a news conference at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

PIRG said some of the toys tested contain toxic chemicals that exceed federal standards. Others have parts small enough to pose a choking risk, the group said.

"Everybody has a small parts tester at home, which is your toilet roll, and if it fits inside here then your toddler 4 and under can choke on that," said Dr. Scott Schoem, an ear, nose and throat doctor at Connecticut Children's.

The PIRG report also shows that magnets and small batteries pose a threat to kids, and Schoem said even your car remote can be an issue.

"You can easily get to the battery inside, and if that gets lodged in your esophagus, then you can burn a hole in the esophagus and cause permanent injury or death," said Schoem.

In response to the PIRG report, the Toy Industry Association is questioning the group's testing methods and claims.

"First and foremost, parents can be assured this holiday season that all toys sold on U.S. store shelves need to be compliant with very strict U.S. product safety standards and need to be tested to show compliance. Year after year, PIRG releases these reports and they’re misleading, they’re inaccurate and they unnecessarily alarm parents," said Rebecca Mond with the Toy Industry Association.

PIRG is also warning parents about noise levels in some toys. The group feels that some toys that comply with federal decibel standards are still too loud and could potentially cause hearing loss in children.

PIRG is pushing to get those federal noise standards changed.
 

Regulators Aim to Cut Back CL&P Rate Increase

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In the weeks following one rate increase for Connecticut Light & Power customers, the utility company has proposed another hike, but state regulators are cutting back the second spike and aiming to save a total of $100 million.

CL&P’s latest request would increase flat fees on the homeowner’s average monthly bill from $16 to $25.50, but the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority slashed that hike to $19.50 in a draft decision released Monday.

A spokesperson for PURA said the decision would also help recover some previously approved cost increases associated with major storms in 2011 and 2012, such as Hurricane Irene and the snowstorm of October 2011.

The increase will still allow CL&P to make infrastructure and service upgrades, according to PURA, which said the hike is “necessary for safety, reliability and maintenance of the franchise.”

Additional increases will go toward improving system resiliency to help minimize customer outages and improve restoration times during severe weather events, according to PURA.

Overall, customers who use 700 kilowatt hours will see an average monthly increase of $7.12, PURA said.

"While we are still reviewing PURA’s draft decision on our rate case filing, we appreciate their careful and comprehensive review of the costs associated with providing safe, reliable power to our customers. It's important to note that there are significant expenses associated with running a large and complex electric system," CL&P spokesman Mitch Gross said in a statement Monday. "Over time, it's crucial that we continue making targeted investments in Connecticut's electric infrastructure. To that end, we are doing everything we can to secure the resources necessary to build and maintain an electric system that is stronger, more reliable and more efficient for our customers. This decision is a critical element of that effort."

Regulators will discuss the decision Dec. 12 and it will go to vote Dec. 17.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Wesleyan Fraternity on Probation Over Sexual Assaults

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The Psi Upsilon chapter at Wesleyan University has been placed on probation until the end of next year in light of two recent sexual assaults associated with fraternity events.

Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth said the decision was precipitated by the recent report of a sexual assault that happened at an unregistered Psi Upsilon pledge event in the spring of 2011.

“Although this latest reported incident took place three years ago, when most current residents of the fraternity house were not yet associated with the organization, some sanction of the fraternity is appropriate,” Roth said in a statement Monday.

Two years later, in the spring of 2013, another sexual assault took place at a Psi Upsilon event, and now the victim is suing the fraternity, according to Roth.

Both perpetrators were expelled from the university, and Psi Upsilon has been placed on probationary housing status until the end of 2015. The fraternity is forbidden from hosting any social events and must abide by all school regulations or risk losing its house permanently.

“This action is consistent with our policies to support survivors, punish assailants and change the culture so as to eliminate elements that lead to sexual assault,” Roth said. “In addition to taking action against individuals found to have perpetrated a violent act, any campus-based organization that has sponsored events that create conditions with a higher risk of violence, including sexual assault, also will be held accountable.”

It comes in the midst of a shift for Wesleyan Greek life.

The Beta Theta Pi chapter at Wesleyan lost its house in September after a sophomore fell from a third-story window during a party.

In an effort to enhance safety and accountability, public safety has been granted unrestricted access to all Greek housing, and all-male fraternities must present a plan by the end of the semester to become co-ed over the next three years, according to Roth.

The national branch of the Psi Upsilon fraternity declined to comment on the matter.


State Leaders Warn of High Electric Rates This Winter

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State leaders are warning residents to plan for high electricity prices this winter as the state's largest utility companies prepare to raise their rates in January.

The Office of the Consumer Counsel is encouraging residents to budget for heftier bills, conserve electricity use and make informed decisions when shopping around for competitive rates.

Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating recently approved rate hikes to take effect Jan. 1, and state regulators will vote on a second CL&P increase later this month.

State Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz will meet with other consumer representatives in the Legislative Office Building tomorrow at 1 p.m. to address the rate hikes.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Neighborhood Watch Launched Over Sex Offender Housing

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With help from police, residents of Broad Street in Norwich are forming a neighborhood watch out of concern over registered sex offenders living in the area.

Residents said they weren’t notified of the sex offender housing at 152 Broad Street and only found out through word of mouth – or from firsthand contact with the sex offenders.

Jennifer Kampfer said one of the sex offenders approached her and her 4-year-old daughter. After that, she checked the state government’s sex offender registry and discovered the designated housing.

“That upset me very much, because I thought they had guidelines to go by about not going near children,” she explained. “I’ve told children that get off at this bus stop if their parents aren’t here, come right up to my house if anybody approaches them.”

Michelle Ancion just moved into the neighborhood and said she wishes she had done more research.

“I’m going to be more cautious,” she said. “I always watch my child but I probably won’t let him outside by himself, or just be more careful about who’s around.”

Residents of Broad Street, Treadway Street, Warren Street and Spaulding Street comprise the Broad Street Neighborhood Watch, bolstered by the Norwich Police Department and its Community Policing Unit.

The Broad Street Neighborhood Watch plans to hold its first meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Norwich Free Academy.



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LA Kings' Voynov Pleads Not Guilty

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Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony domestic violence charge stemming from his arrest at a Southern California hospital where his wife was being treated for injuries.

Voynov, suspended by the NHL since his arrest, is scheduled to return to court later this month. The 24-year-old Russian Olympian, who appeared in court Monday with an interpreter, is facing a single count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury.

Prosecutors had asked that bond be increased to $85,000, but the amount remained at $50,000 after Monday's court appearance. Voynov also was allowed to have "peaceful" contact with the accuser, who provided an affidavit to the court that said she does not feel threatened by him.

He is scheduled to return to court Dec. 15. Voynov and his attorneys did not respond to a request outside the courtroom for comment after Monday's hearing, which was attended by a member of the Consulate General of Russia in San Francisco.

"I'm just here to make sure all the rights of a Russian citizen are followed," said representative Evgeny Uspenskiy.

Defense attorney Craig Renetzky said when his client was charged that Voynov was "extremely disappointed" with the decision to file a case against him and "maintains his innocence."

Voynov was arrested Oct. 20 at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, where his wife was being treated for injuries to her eyebrow, cheek and neck that prosecutors allege she suffered during an argument with her husband the previous night. Immediately following his arrest, Voynov was suspended with pay by the National Hockey League.

Officers went to Voynov's home in the 800 block of Avenue C the night of Oct. 19 in response to a report of a woman heard screaming and crying. No one responded at the residence, but Redondo Beach officer were contacted later that morning by the Torrance Police Department regarding a woman being treated at Little Company of Mary Hospital emergency room.

If convicted, Voynov could face up to nine years in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

In a statement released soon after the charge was filed against Voynov, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, "We are aware of the actions taken today in California, which we will review and evaluate before making any decisions. Until further notice, the current terms of Mr. Voynov's suspension remain in place."

The Los Angeles Kings issued a statement saying that the team maintains "our support of the NHL's indefinite suspension of Slava Voynov. As an organization we will continue to closely monitor the developments of the legal proceedings and work in partnership with the NHL to determine the proper course of action in the future."

Voynov has been suspended by the league from all club activities since the arrest. The league's collective bargaining agreement allows for the suspension of a player during a criminal investigation.

Unlike the NFL and NBA, the NHL and Major League Baseball do not have policies specific to domestic violence. Penalties are usually handed out at the discretion of the commissioner on a case-by-case basis.

The case follows other recent domestic violence investigations that involved high-profile professional athletes, including NFL running back Ray Rice. The Rice case and video of the assault in a casino elevator led to a new NFL policy regarding domestic violence offenders.

An arbitrator ruled Friday that Rice's suspension for punching his fiancee, now his wife, should be vacated immediately. The NFL said Rice, a free agent, is "eligible to play upon signing a new contract."

Ferguson Protests: What Comes Next?

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A week after a grand jury declined to indict the white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed, black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, here's a look at what is next for the city and the country: 

What happened

Darren Wilson, a white police officer, shot unarmed black teenager Michael Brown on Aug. 9, leading to sometimes violent unrest in Ferguson.

Weeks of protests broke out immediately after the shooting and again after a grand jury announced on Nov. 24 that it would not indict Wilson in Brown’s death. Rioting broke out, with some demonstrators shooting at police, setting cars and buildings on fire and looting shops.

Protests have spread around the country, with groups marching to Times Square in New York City, shutting down the 10 freeway in southern California and trying to disrupt holiday shopping on Black Friday.

Wilson resigned over the weekend and Ferguson Mayor James Knowles said he received no pay or benefits in return. The officer wrote that his continued employment might have put the city's residents and police officers at risk.

And during the first Rams' home game since the grand jury decision, five players raised their hands before the football game's introduction. Some witnesses told the grand jury that Brown had his hands up before he was shot, though others said he did not raise his hands at all.

What’s happening now

A group calling itself Ferguson Action is urging people to walk out of their jobs or classes in solidarity on Monday.

“What gives us hope in this moment of pain and anguish is the thousands of people who have poured into the streets of America to demand change,” the group said in a statement.

In Missouri, a 16-member commission created by Gov. Jay Nixon met for the first time Monday afternoon. A public comment session was scheduled.

The panel is charged with investigating the underlying problems that unleashed the violence in Ferguson following the fatal shooting of Brown.

It will look at social and economic conditions from failing schools to high employment to uneasy relations between the police and the community. St. Louis County is predominantly white, but Ferguson and other nearby towns are mostly black. However, the police force in Ferguson is more than 90 percent white.

Richard Rosenfeld, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Missouri-St. Louis says Ferguson, a city of about 21,000, has pockets of economic disadvantage but also middle- and upper-income residents and has benefitted from recent growth in the northern part of St. Louis County.

Ferguson's unemployment rate rose from less than 5 percent in 2000 to more than 13 percent in 2012. Its poor population doubled so that now one in four lives below the federal poverty line.

The panel includes a Ferguson construction supply company owner, two pastors, a university professor, two lawyers, a 20-year-old community activist and a St. Louis police detective who is also president of the state chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

President Obama, meanwhile, met Monday with his cabinet and civil rights activists, politicians and law enforcement officers.

The White House proposed $263 million in funding for body cameras for police officers, training and mroe engagement between police and communities.

The progam would need approval from Congress. It would provide a 50 percent match to states that purchase the cameras or $75 million over three years to help purchase more than 50,000 cameras.

NBC News reported that the administration would not make major changes to a program that transfers surplus military equipment to local police, but would try to make sure the equipment was used properly.

The president is also announced the creation of a new task force to prepare recommendations for 21st century policing.

The White House said the unrest showed the importance of strong, collaborative relationships between local police and the communities they serve.

"As the country has witnessed, disintegration of trust between law enforcement agencies and the people they protect and serve can destabilize communities, undermine the legitimacy of the criminal justice system, undermine public safety, create resentment in local communities, and make the job of delivering police services less safe and more difficult," the White House said.

What's next?

The U.S. Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation that could result in a separate prosecution though numerous experts have called that unlikely.

It has also initiated a broader investigation of the Ferguson police department that will look at the conduct of the entire department over the past several years.

Police officers in Ferguson have been the subject of a handful of lawsuits filed in recent years claiming that excessive force was used, NBC News reported.



Photo Credit: AP
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Bridgeport Men Burglarize Neighbors: Police

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Police have arrested two men accused of forcing their way into a Bridgeport home and stealing money, a flat screen TV and other belongings.

According to police, 47-year-old Anthony “Batman” Clemons and 21-year-old Lamar Howell showed up to a house on Davenport Avenue and knocked on the door around 1:45 a.m. Sunday. The victims told police they opened the door and the suspects pushed their way in, demanding money.

Police arrived at the scene to find the residents standing outside, pointing and yelling. One of the suspects jumped a fence and ran up to a nearby home on Alex Street, banging on the door to get in, according to police.

Officers detained him and the man who opened the door. They were identified as Clemons and Howell.

Police said they searched the house to find the stolen TV and a clear mask that matched one worn during the burglary.

One of the victims told police he was familiar with Clemons and that a third suspect was also involved, according to police. Authorities are still investigating.

Both Clemons and Howell were charged with home invasion, first-degree burglary, conspiracy, first-degree robbery and fourth-degree larceny.

Clemons was also charged with third-degree assault and third-degree sexual assault, because one of the victims' pants came down when he tugged on them demanding money, police said. He was held on $100,000 bond.

Howell was held on $75,000 bond.



Photo Credit: Bridgeport Police Department

Sneaker Snatchers Strike in Bridgeport

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A Facebook swap took a turn for the worse when two young men on bikes accosted the victim in Bridgeport, stealing a pair of sneakers and waving a gun at him, according to police.

Police said the victim had arranged to meet one of the suspects on Facebook and trade a pair of shoes.

When he showed in up the area of Helen Street, two suspects on bikes approached him, grabbing a backpack with the sneakers inside. Police said one of them pulled out a gun.

Police are working to identify the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Bridgeport Det. Dennis Martinez at 203-581-5223.



Photo Credit: Bridgeport Police Department

"Jackass" Star Slapped With Citation for SeaWorld Prank

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The San Diego City Attorney’s Office has slapped “Jackass” prankster Steve-O with a $239 traffic citation for a prank aimed at SeaWorld In May.

Stephen Gilchrist Glover — a.k.a. Steve-O — chronicled the shenanigans in a YouTube video published in August. In it, he is shown trying to scale a rope and then a ladder to reach the exit sign along southbound Interstate 5 in San Diego.

Over the word “Drive,” he taped up a “SUCKS” banners so the sign said “Sea World SUCKS” for a time.

In the clip, the animal rights activist explained he did it to put “my foot down for Shamu” and asked others to share the video.

Caltrans says when they ripped off the tape, it pulled off the reflective material on the sign. For that reason, the California Highway Patrol originally submitted charges of vandalism and trespassing against Steve-O.

The TV personality responded in an Instagram post, writing "The California Highway Patrol has requested that the District Attorney file charges against me for helping out this sign. Bring on the publicity, because #SeaWorldSucks #yeahdude #freesteveo."

Instead, on Monday, the city attorney settled on a traffic citation that is comparable to a stop-sign or speeding ticket.

“It is an infraction because distractions such as this can cause accidents, just like running a stop sign,” said Gerry Braun, director of communications for the city attorney’s office. “It was not a smart thing to do to place drivers and their passengers in harm’s way. Had anyone been injured, it is likely Mr. Glover would have faced a felony or misdemeanor depending on the seriousness of the injury.”

Steve-O is set to be arraigned in traffic court on Dec. 22 and can settle by paying a $239 fine.

But whether the fine was $239 or $2,390, it won’t come out of his pocketbook.

PETA has vowed to pay any fines incurred by the prank, which the organization calls “spot on.” Steve-O has taken part in PETA campaigns in the past.



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Drought Takes Toll on Xmas Trees

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The day after Thanksgiving generally means the hunt is on for the best Christmas tree. But California's severe drought has some tree farms warning customers that they may not see the quality they have in past years.

The Meyer family was out shopping for a Christmas tree on Friday in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They saw first hand how the drought has impacted the quality of the trees.

"A lot of them are find, but a lot of dry spots," Joel Meyer said. "Just gotta pick and choose and clear them out and go for it."

Tree farms across the state are warning customers that trees over 5 feet are showing stress because they did not get much water or growth over the last year. In addition, the trees might not be as full.

The Kloppel family saw the effects of the drought at a local tree farms near Moss Landing.

"We have plenty of tree farms, but the drought really hit all the farms and our trees are dry," Mari Kloppel said. "So we decided to come to the mountains where the trees are a little fresher."

The owners of Frosty's Tree Farm above Los Gatos said the drought did have an effect this year, but still believes most of its trees are fine and healthy. Owner Johnny Cerrito recommends shoppers put the tree in water right away.

"Just make sure to keep it watered in the first week or two," Cerrito said. "That'll absorb most of the water. So they really do need to maintain the water."



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

City Honors Firefighters After Heroic Rescue in Bridgeport

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Three firefighters risked it all to save the life of a 93-year-old woman trapped in a burning building, and tonight city leaders gathered in Bridgeport to say thank you.

Firefighters Bobby Hernandez and Richard Messer and Lt. Neil Carr were among those called to the Bennett Street blaze the night of Nov. 19. An 87-year-old man made it out safely but the woman was still upstairs, locked in a second-floor bedroom, according to city officials.

Hernandez and Messer sprinted inside and crawled through the smoky apartment. They broke down the bedroom door and found the woman in bed, unconscious.

“[Messer] grabbed her legs, I grabbed her arms, and we made our way to the stairwell,” Hernandez explained. “From there, she must have woken up. She got a little combative and started ripping off my face piece.”

Carr rushed over and helped carry her the rest of the way.

“Thank God he was there,” Hernandez said. “It was pretty intense.”

Both residents were taken to the hospital and were conscious when leaving the scene.

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch wrote in a news release that the firefighters were likely to say they were “just doing their job” – and they did.

“Just do what you’re told to do, and if you do your job properly, you’ll come out and go home the next day,” said Carr.

But what the firefighters emphasized most Monday night was the importance of teamwork.

“There’s no way one person could’ve done that on their own. From the guys on the hose line, to the guys opening up the roof, to the ventilation going,” Hernandez said. “If one thing wouldn’t have [gone] right on that job, the rescue would never have been possible, so it was a total group effort. Everybody at the scene that day did exactly what they were supposed to do.”

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and City Councilwoman Sue Brannelly hailed them as heroes.

“They gather grace to have the courage to do what they do, especially in those moments, especially when it is so acute and so fast,” said Susan Brannelly. “To see somebody be brave enough to save someone else’s life is just beyond words.”



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Teen Ambushed, Shot in New Haven

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A 17-year-old was rushed to the hospital Monday evening after he was shot in the arm during an apparent robbery attempt in New Haven.

Police said three men confronted the teen in the area of Main and Market streets around 5:40 p.m.

The victim told officers he tried to get away when he realized they were trying to rob him. One of the men pulled a handgun and shot him in the arm, according to police.

An ambulance brought the teen to a local hospital for treatment. He's expected to recovery.

Police gathered evidence from the scene and are investigating the shooting.

All Hamden Officers to Wear Body Cameras

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City officials have given the Hamden Police Department the green light to buy new body cameras so all uniformed officers can wear them in the field, according to the police chief.

The Hamden Legislative Council approved the bid at a meeting Monday night, permitting police to buy 39 body cameras from Taser International and bringing the department total to 75, Chief Thomas Wydra said.

It comes as President Barack Obama is calling for $75 million in federal spending to outfit officers with body cameras in the wake of the police shooting of teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

"The Toughest Beat": Hartford Cops Visit Sick Kids

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Members of the Hartford Police Department shooting task force walked "the toughest beat" Monday, visiting patients at Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

Among those kids is 9-year-old Davon Brown, who's receiving treatment for sickle cell anemia.

"It brightened his day up. I like it a lot. You look at him now, he has a smile on his face," said Davon's father, Rondell Brown.

Chief James Rovella, a cancer survivor, joined the patrol, offering words of encouragement to young cancer patients like 6-year-old Tyrell Brady, who's undergoing chemotherapy.

"He gets kind of bored easily, so for him to have some type of different people to kind of have a little bit of fun and talk, I think, makes it easier for him," said Tyrell's mother, Iris Quinones.

Deputy Police Chief Brian Foley organized the beat and said the department hoped just nine officers from the shooting task force would make the trip.

Twenty-five volunteered.

"Hopefully, it gives them a break in what they're going through. The officers are going to try to be as positive with them as possible and give them words of encouragement and let them know how brave the kids are," said Foley.

Hartford police plan to make "The Toughest Beat" a quarterly patrol at Connecticut Children's, with officers from the city's north end planning to visit kids at the hospital next time.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com
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