Month: January 2020

FBI Asked To Investigate

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Wednesday called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to investigate reports that a high-level Saudi official hacked Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos’s phone in an effort to influence—if not silence—the Post’s reporting on Saudi Arabia and the death of Jamal Khashoggi. In the letter, Murphy called specifically for an investigation into this case and any other U.S. citizens who may have been hacked as part of this campaign to intimidate opponents of the Kingdom, and requested a briefing for Congress on the status of any current investigation and all preliminary and final conclusions.

 

Murphy wrote: “The operation against Mr. Bezos raises serious concern that other American citizens may have been deliberately targeted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Cyber crimes committed by officials of the Saudi government could have serious ramifications on the U.S-Saudi relationship.”

 

“This new allegation indicates that Khashoggi’s murder may be a part of a broader campaign to intimidate and silence opponents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is critical that the Congress and the American people understand the extent of this campaign and any ongoing vulnerabilities to U.S. national security,” Murphy continued.

 

Since 2015, Murphy has been a critic of U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. He has repeatedly expressed concern that U.S. participation in Saudi Arabia’s military actions against Houthi rebels in Yemen threatens our own national security interests. Following the murder of Khashoggi, Murphy reiterated his call for the suspension of military support for the Saudi-led campaign in a Washington Post op-ed. Last year, Murphy introduced a bipartisan resolution with U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) pursuant to the War Powers Act to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement. The resolution passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate earlier this year before being vetoed by President Trump. This was the first time since the War Powers Act became law in 1973 that both houses of Congressed passed a War Powers Act resolution.

 

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Trumbull News: Teen Arrested Twice For Trumbull Mall Robberies

A 14-year-old Bridgeport teen was arrested Sunday afternoon, January 26, following his involvement in two robberies at the Westfield Trumbull Mall. The teen was identified as the suspect in two separate incidents where cellphones were snatched from mall shoppers and he was subsequently charged with robbery and other related charges.

 

At about 5:30 p.m., on January 25th, the 14-year-old teen, along with his 17-year-old brother and other unidentified teens, grabbed a cellphone from the hands of a teenaged girl at the Westfield Trumbull Mall, before they fled the area. The two brothers were later apprehended by police, but the other teens escaped and were not identified. Both teen brothers were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Robbery 3rd degree, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 2nd degree and were released to their mother (as required by juvenile protocol) on a promise to appear in Bridgeport Juvenile Court on February 3, 2020.

 

The following day, on January 26th, at about 1:30 p.m., the same 14-year-old teen entered the Target store with another unidentified male and grabbed an iPhone from the hands of a female patron before running out of the store. Security camera footage of the incident captured the suspect’s image and aided in the identification of the same juvenile involved in the earlier theft. He was charged with Robbery 3rd degree, Larceny 2nd degree, and Criminal Trespass 2 nd degree, and again released to the custody of his mother on a promise to appear in Bridgeport Juvenile Court on February 3, 2020. No one was injured in the two incidents.

 

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Westport News: Voting Deadlines

Westport, CT – The Registrars of Voters announced the following :

Connecticut is one of a small number of states that requires voters to join a political party prior to the day of a primary election or caucus for nominating candidates.  As a result, voters often discover they are ineligible to participate in a primary until they arrive at their polling place.

It is unknown at this time which parties will hold primaries in 2020. However, it is advisable to be proactive and check your voter registration status prior to any anticipated primary.

In 2020, party primaries are scheduled for:

April 28:  Presidential Primaries

  • 4/23:  Deadline for new/unaffiliated voters to register or change parties (online or postmarked mail)
  • 4/27 @ noon: Deadline for new/unaffiliated voters to register or change parties (in person at Town Hall)

 

August 11:  State/Federal Primaries

  • 5/11: Last day for voters currently in a party to change parties
  • 8/6:  Deadline for new/unaffiliated voters to register or change parties (online or postmarked mail)
  • 8/10, noon:  Deadline for new/unaffiliated voters to register or change parties (in person at Town Hall)

 

Note that anyone who turns 18 by 11/3/2020 may register and vote in these primaries.

 

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Westport Police Arrest Four for Wireless Store Larceny

#Westport, CT At approximately 4:30pm on the afternoon of Sunday January 26, 2020, the Westport Police Department’s emergency dispatch center was contacted by staff of the T-Mobile wireless store, located at 1799 Post Road East, reporting a larceny. The initial report was that three suspects had entered the store wearing masks and had immediately begun to steal a number of wireless phones from the displays within. It was explained that these suspects allegedly began forcibly removing displayed demonstration cell phones by ripping them from the various cases that they were affixed to. After a short period inside the store gathering merchandise, the suspects quickly then left the area in a waiting vehicle reportedly driven by a fourth suspect. The total value of the stolen items is initially estimated at $6758.92.

Through this investigation, it was additionally learned that similar incidents of this type had occurred in at least three other Connecticut jurisdictions on this same date. A description of the suspects in the Westport incident and their vehicle was provided to responding officers by employees who had witnessed the crime. Through information sharing between the Westport Police Department and other surrounding agencies, as well as those that experienced similar incidents on this date, officers began monitoring these stores within their local jurisdictions. Information was also shared internally between wireless stores belonging to the same chain, thereby alerting their staff to the occurrence of these incidents. Shortly after leaving Westport, these same suspects allegedly attempted a similar crime at a wireless retail store in the city of Stamford. This attempt was unsuccessful due to the advanced preparation of both the store’s staff and police, and a total of four parties were ultimately taken into custody by the Stamford Police Department. These four suspects were subsequently turned over to this agency for criminal charging in connection with the above-detailed incident.

At the time of this writing, officers are still actively investigating this case and working to positively identify all four individuals; at least two of which have preliminarily been identified as juveniles. Once identified, these suspects will likely be charged with a combination of larceny, conspiracy and criminal mischief related offenses relative to this incident. An update to this release containing the identities of the adult suspects and their associated charges is expected to be disseminated on Monday January 27, 2020. UPDATE AS OF 1/27/2020: The adult arrestees in this incident have been positively identified as follows: The first adult suspect in this incident is identified as Raymond Enriquez, age 32, of Bronx, New York. Enriquez is charged with 53a-48(53a-103) Conspiracy at Burglary 3 rd Degree, 53a-48(53-117) Conspiracy at Criminal Mischief 3 rd Degree, and 53a-48(53a-124) Conspiracy at Larceny 3 rd Degree. Bond was set at $5,000.00 which Enriquez was able to post and was released. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30am at Norwalk Superior Court on Friday February 7, 2020. The second adult suspect is identified as Javon Roberts, age 19, of Bronx, New York. Roberts is charged with 53a-103 Burglary 3 rd Degree, 53a-117 Criminal Mischief 3 rd Degree, 53a-124 Larceny 3 rd Degree, 53a-48(53a-103) Conspiracy at Burglary 3 rd Degree, 53a-48(53-117) Conspiracy at Criminal Mischief 3 rd Degree, and 53a-48(53a-124) Conspiracy at Larceny 3 rd Degree. Bond was set at $10,000.00 which Roberts was unable to post. He is therefore scheduled to be arraigned on the morning of Monday January 27, 2020 at Norwalk Superior Court.

 

Also charged in connection with this investigation were two 17 year old male juveniles from the state of New York. Both are charged with 53a-103 Burglary 3 rd Degree, 53a-117 Criminal Mischief 3 rd Degree, 53a-124 Larceny 3 rd Degree, 53a- 15:16 3 48(53a-103) Conspiracy at Burglary 3 rd Degree, 53a-48(53-117) Conspiracy at Criminal Mischief 3 rd Degree, and 53a-48(53a-124) Conspiracy at Larceny 3 rd Degree. Both were ultimately released to the custody of parents.

 

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Bridgeport News: Elderly Man Beaten By Teen During Shooting

#Bridgeport CT–The Bridgeport Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the person responsible for committing a serious assault against an elderly person immediately following the homicide on Highland Avenue on January 26, 2020. The attached video clip shows the perpetrator inside Junco’s Market on Highland Avenue before the shooting and physical assault, and then captures the assault after the shooting. The victim is a good Samaritan who was attempting to render aid to a shooting victim. Anyone who can identify the person responsible is asked to call Detective Harper at 203-581-5239 or the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS.

Bridgeport News: Manhunt-Firearm Recovered-School On Lockdown

2020-01-28@10:55pm–#Bridgeport CT–A police officer on duty noticed a man with a firearm in his waistband at Madison and Grand Street.  The man fled down Grand Street and tossed the firearm in the 400 block of Grand Street.  The firearm was recovered and Columbus School was put on lock in/out which was lifted at 11:05am.  State Police (now patrolling the Greene Homes) dispatched a K-9 but the suspect is still at large.

 

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Ansonia News: Man Shot In The Foot

2020-01-28@1:08am–#Ansonia CT–The Ansonia Police Department received several 911 calls reporting gunshots in the area of Wakelee Avenue and Clarkson Street. Responding officers located a 19 year-old male from New Haven at the corner of Clarkson Street and Holbrook Street, the male had been shot once in the foot. The male provided no information to the responding officers regarding the shooting. The male was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The Ansonia Police Department Patrol Division and Detective Bureau continue to investigate the incident. Anyone with information should call the Ansonia Police Department at 203-735-1885. (Ansonia Police Press Release)

 

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US Senator Murphy On Increased Violence

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, on Monday made the following statement regarding the recent escalation of violence in Yemen:

 

“The recent escalation of violence in Yemen is deeply troubling, especially the Houthi missile attacks on mosques and civilian areas. All sides must de-escalate immediately, adhere to the cross-border truce, and work through the political process to bring us closer to ending this brutal war and humanitarian crisis,” said Murphy. “This is a critical moment when Yemen could lose the window of opportunity for negotiations and return to fighting. That would be a loss for both sides, as well as for the United States and broader regional security.”

 

Murphy continued: “For months, I have been begging the State Department to get more directly involved in political negotiations in Yemen. They have regrettably and largely stayed on the sidelines. Now is the moment for the highest levels of the Trump administration to engage directly.”  

 

In November, Murphy called  the Riyadh Agreement a positive step to avert fracturing in Yemen.

 

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