8:11pm–#Bridgeport Connecticut– There was an attempt to rob a group of school children from Blackham School’s after school recreation program. The attempted robbery occurred at Amsterdam and Thorme Street. A person wearing a ski mask fled in a dark colored car.
#Norwalk Connecticut–On January 24, 2017, Norwalk Detective Bureau responded to 109 Flax Hill Road to locate and arrest Fernando Herrarte. Herrarte was wanted by the Stamford Police Department on charges of Threatening 1, Reckless Endangerment 1 and Disorderly conduct regarding an incident where he had pointed a firearm at a person. Detectives located Herrarte at the residence and took him into custody without incident. Upon receiving consent to search the residence, Detectives located a loaded Glock .357 pistol and additional ammunition. Detectives also located 45.94 grams of marijuana, 61.58 grams of cocaine, a digital scale and $1,630. Herrarte was turned over to Stamford Police Department on their charges. An arrest warrant was issued for Herrarte based on the items located and seized by Norwalk Detectives. On January 27, 2017, Herrarte was arrested at the Norwalk Courthouse.
Arrested: Fernando Herrarte, 25 of 109 Flax Hill Road Norwalk
Charges: Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell, Possession of Narcotics within 1500’ School, Possession of Narcotics within 1500’ of School with Intent to Sell and Possession of Marijuana
Bond: $75,000
Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111 Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637)
6:41pm–#Bridgeport Connecticut– Firefighters were called to 50 Fremont Street for an activated pull station alarm. Firefighters discover it is a break in on the 6th floor and they are waiting for police to arrive.
6:00pm–#Bridgeport Connecticut– A car has hit a utility pole on Fairfield Avenue near Wordin Avenue. The road is closed from Hansen Avenue due to down wired in the street. A seizure may have caused the accident.
HARTFORD – State Rep. John Frey (R-111) is seeking to relieve Connecticut of a massive burden to its state budget by proposing two bills that will address the massive costs of state employee pensions that have increased exponentially each year. The first, H.B. 6087, would ensure that state employees’ pensions are based only on stated income. The second, H.B. 6292, would eliminate state pensions for elected officials in Connecticut.
“By now, everyone knows that Connecticut has a major fiscal problem and that it has stalled its economy,” said Rep. Frey. “Governor Malloy calls it our ‘new economic reality, but there’s nothing new about it. Unfunded pension liabilities owed by the state total more than three times the state budget. If we want to seriously explore how to get Connecticut out of this mess, we need to stop thinking about new ways to tax people and start tackling the quagmire of these unfunded liabilities. We really don’t have a choice but to make significant changes.”
Rep. Frey noted that past decisions pushing off making payments have caused pension costs to grow uncontrollably, with annual contributions to state employees’ and teachers’ pensions more than doubling since 2010. Unfunded pension obligations currently equal three times the 2016-17 state budget.
“Pensions should be based only on stated income, just like most other public sector workers, without counting longevity pay, mileage reimbursements and overtime,” Rep. Frey said. “Currently, employees’ pensions are calculated based on the three years they made the most income, which includes a lot of overtime, travel perks and fringe benefits. H.B. 6087 would make state employees’ pensions more affordable by more accurately reflecting their salaries.”
As for lawmakers’ pensions, Rep. Frey stressed that elected officials proudly serve as part-time employees. “It doesn’t make sense for part-time employees to participate in a pension program,” he said. “A salary and mileage reimbursements for elected officials make sense because of the demands of the job, but it makes no fiscal sense for them to receive pensions or for their years of service in the legislature to count towards a pension if they eventually go on to hold a full-time state job.”
“This bill is unlikely to be popular among many of my colleagues, but it’s the right thing to do and it addresses this problem without raising taxes,” Rep. Frey added. “Too many seemingly minor perks and ambiguous aspects of service in state government are driving us into the ditch. I think my fellow legislators need to take a hard look at the budget and accept that this is where the most savings can come from.”
#Westport Connecticut–In November of 2016, the victim of this incident filed a larceny from her vehicle report. The victim stated her vehicle was parked and unoccupied in the parking lot of Assumption Church at 11 Burr Road on November 15 th , 2016. The Assumption Church parking lot is in close proximity to the Saugatuck Elementary School parking lot, which is located on Riverside Avenue. On 11/19/2016, the victim read an article regarding an arrest made by Westport police of a motor vehicle break in at Saugatuck Elementary School. It was reported that Jessica Sullivan had been arrested for taking items out of unlocked cars in the Saugatuck Elementary School parking lot, during the daytime hours of 11/15/2016. Due to the close proximity of the parking lots, nature of the crime (entering unlocked vehicles) and reported date and time, the victim thought that the thefts could be connected, which prompted her to contact Westport police. Westport Detectives were able to connect missing items from the victim to items seized from Sullivan at the time of her original arrest. Approximate value of stolen items totaled $125.00. An arrest warrant was submitted to Norwalk Court for the arrest of Jessica Sullivan. On 01/30/17, Westport Detectives responded to Sullivan’s home and took her into custody the active warrant. She was processed for the above listed charges and was taken to court on 01/30/17.
#Norwalk Connecticut–On January 26, 2017, members of the Special Services Division were conducting a surveillance operation in Colonial Village. At 11:05 a.m., Officers observed Michael Massey enter a parked vehicle within the complex. The Norwalk Police Department held four active warrants for Massey charging Sale of Narcotics, based on a several month investigation conducted by the Special Services Division. Officers pulled up to Massey in a marked police car and exited the vehicle, ordering Massey to show his hands. Massey put his vehicle in reverse, driving up onto the sidewalk before pulling forward, narrowly missing the officers. Massey fled on Suncrest Road, as the officers returned to their police car to follow him. As the officers drove into the area of 124 Suncrest Road, they observed Massey’s vehicle stopped in the roadway with the driver’s door open. They then observed Massey fleeing on foot toward the center of the complex. The officers radioed the foot pursuit to dispatch and gave chase, eventually catching Massey in the area of 2 Suncrest Road. Officers recovered 10 bags of heroin and a bag containing crack cocaine, which Massey had discarded while fleeing. Massey, who was on Special Parole, was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections.
Arrested: Michael Massey, 27 of 78 Taylor Avenue Norwalk Charges: Possession of Narcotics, Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Sell within 1500’ Housing, Interfering with Police Officer, Operating Without a License. The (4) arrest warrants charged Sale of Narcotics, Sale of Narcotics within 1500’ School, Possession of Narcotics and Possession of Narcotics within 1500’ School.
Total bond: $250,000
Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111 Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637)
#Westport Connecticut–In September of 2016, Kyle Ritchie issued 2 checks to the victims of this incident. The checking account did not have sufficient funds to pay the checks, which totaled approximately 4,500.00.
The victims and the police attempted several times to have Ritchie pay the owed amount which he did not. An arrest warrant was submitted to Norwalk Court for Ritchie’s arrest. On 01/30/17, Ritchie turned himself in for the active warrant. He was transported to Norwalk Court , 01/30/17, after being processed.
