Month: April 2013

11:50pm–#Bridgeport CT–A pedestrian was hit at the corner of Sedgewick Street and Beers Street. Police are looking for a black van that fled scene down Sedgewick Street towards Madison Avenue.

#Weston CT—Weston Fire Volunteer Fire Department responded to a car fire on Rt 57 this evening.  The road was closed while the fire department extinguished the fire. Photos by Bruce Ando

(Bridgeport, CT – April 9, 2013) – Two felons denied ownership of a firearm located in their car Monday after a motor vehicle stop.  Officers Ian Schumaker and Adrian Elem pulled the vehicle over at 3:40 a.m. after they witnessed the driver, Carlos Martinez, 28, run a red light on State Street.

The officers discovered that Martinez had a suspended license so he was removed from the car. The officers then discovered that the passenger, Raymond Sierra, 19, also had a suspended license. He also was removed from the car so it could be towed.  When they inventoried the car, they located a pistol under the passenger seat of the car. Both denied it belonged to them.  In a bag, officers found an ammunition magazine that contained nine rounds. They also found five white pills which, based on the markings, were determined to be oxycodone.  Police also learned that the license plate on the car was stolen.

Both men were charged with criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit and possession of narcotics. Martinez also was charged with motor vehicle violations.  Bond on the drug and weapons counts was set at $25,000 each.

9:40pm–#Stratford CT–Stratford remains active, police are looking for a white male in a tan SUV responsible for shots fired on Barnum Avenue near Bruce Street.  UPDATE—Shots fired turned out to be from a BB gun.

7:38pm–#Bridgeport CT–First responders are tending to a pedestrian who was hit by a car at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue and Brewster Street.  Traffic is snarled as well.

6:42pm–#Bridgeport CT–Firefighters on scene at 244 University Boulevard calling in the bomb squad, not a lot of details.  Reports of the University of Bridgeport being evacuated.   UPDATE–False alarm, all clear.

Police press release:  The Bridgeport police and fire departments did respond to the University of Bridgeport on a report of a suspicious item. It was found inside office space rented by a radio station on university property. I believe the call letters are WPKN.
Authorities responded and the building was evacuated with the assistance of UB security personnel. The immediate area, not the UB campus, was evacuated as a precaution. Police located the person who found the device and called authorities. The COnnecticut State Police Bomb squad was notified but the request was withdrawn after Bridgeport Fire Department personnel got a closer look at the item. It was determined to be a novelty item, a toy.
Officer Jeff Long was able to identify the person who brought it to the office and made contact with him. The person said he had no intention of causing any alarm and the device itself was harmless.
The whole episode lasted perhaps an hour before people were allowed back inside. It started at about 6:20 p.m. No arrest has been made.

4:58PM–#Bridgeport– Today’s car fire is at 265 Clark Street in Bridgeport!

3:38pm–#Bridgeport CT–A firetruck was involved in an traffic accident at Central and Stratford Avenue.  Police investigating.  No injuries reported.