#Westport CT–On April 29, 2021 at approximately 4:20 p.m., Westport Police officers responded to a local restaurant on a threatening complaint. It was reported that a former employee, who was identified as David Iredia, had called the establishment multiple times over the last several days requesting to get his job back. It was alleged that during one of these phone calls Mr. Iredia threatened to go to the restaurant and shoot everyone. Mr. Iredia was interviewed about this incident and purportedly said he does not own a gun and only made the comment in response to a threat made against him.
Based on the investigation, a warrant for Mr. Iredia’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge. On the afternoon of May 20, 2021, Mr. Iredia was taken into custody by officers from the Trumbull Police Department and turned over to the Westport police. Per the warrant, he was charged with Threatening in the Second Degree and Harassment in the Second Degree. Mr. Iredia was held on a $10,000.00 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court the morning of Friday, May 21, 2021.
This press release was made possible by:
MEN ARRESTED FOR MULTIPLE ASSAULTS AT TRUMBULL MALL
Two (2) Bridgeport men were arrested Thursday evening, May 20th
, following their involvement in an altercation and assault of several people at the Westfield Trumbull Mall. Lorenzo Carter, age 26, of Sanford Place, and Deonte Sayles, age 25, of Jane Street were identified as the suspects who assaulted mall employees and a customer, an incident which began as a verbal dispute then escalated into the assaults. The men fled the area and but were later apprehended by Trumbull officers in the mall’s parking lot, where Carter became confrontational and fought with police resisting arrest. At about 2:30 p.m., the two men entered the T-Mobile store where Carter was inquiring about discrepancies on his phone bill. Carter started to yell at the T-Mobile employee who was assisting him then attempted to punch the employee over the counter. Carter then went around the counter where he used both of his fists to punch the store employee in the face and body, injuring the employee. A second T-Mobile employee attempted to stop Carter’s continuing assault when Sayles intervened and punched the second employee in the head. Carter and Sayles then left the store. This first employee did not require medical attention; however, the second employee was later transported to the hospital for treatment of a bleeding head injury.
As Carter was leaving the store, he approached an elderly woman who was talking on her cellphone. Carter grabbed her phone from her ear and pulled her hair at the same time, and then he threw her cellphone across the hallway and left the area. This woman sustained minor injuries during this confrontation, but required no medical attention.
Carter was charged with Assault 2nd degree, Assault 3rd degree (2 counts), Interfering with an Officer, Criminal Mischief 3rd degree, and Breach of Peace, and was held on a $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on May 27,
Carter also had two (2) outstanding arrest warrants for Failure to Appear in Court, and was held on an additional $170,000 bond.
Sayles, who was on probation, was charged with Assault 3rd degree, and released on a Promise to Appear in court Bridgeport Superior Court on May 27, 2021.
Hartford, CT – Attorney General William Tong applauded a bipartisan 130-18 vote in the Connecticut House of Representatives passing legislation to strengthen the state’s ability to combat price gouging. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
“Connecticut families and businesses deserve strong and effective legal protections against those who seek to exploit the pain and panic of a declared emergency. While we received hundreds of pandemic price gouging complaints, Connecticut’s existing statutes severely limited our ability to hold price gougers accountable. I appreciate the strong support this legislation has received in the House, and look forward to similar bipartisan support in the Senate,” said Attorney General Tong.
During civil preparedness and public health emergencies, price gouging is against Connecticut law. Acting in coordination with the Department of Consumer Protection, the Office of the Attorney General may file suit against price gougers and seek appropriate relief, including injunctive terms, restraining orders, restitution, and civil financial penalties designed to deter future unscrupulous sales. While the Office of the Attorney General received over 750 COVID-related price gouging complaints, limitations in existing price gouging statutes curtailed the state’s ability to crack down on some of the worst actors that sought to take advantage of severe shortages in protective equipment and essential goods.
Three shortcomings limited the statute’s effectiveness: it applies only to retail sales; it does not adequately define price gouging; and it does not clearly state that it applies to leases and rental items. Legislation sought by Attorney General Tong seeks to address each of those shortcomings and strengthen the state’s ability to protect consumers.
The proposed legislation addresses three core shortcomings in the existing statute:
Expanding Beyond Retail: The state’s current price gouging statute only applies to retail sales, excluding wholesale and sales within the supply chain. During the pandemic, many state investigations of alleged price gouging behavior revealed that although the retail price of the item in question had increased, sometimes dramatically, the retail seller was not responsible for that increase. Rather, the cost of the item charged by the wholesaler to the retailer had increased, forcing the retailer to raise the price at the point of sale. In many cases, Connecticut retailers reduced their normal mark-ups in an effort to keep retail prices lower. Amending the price gouging statute to apply up and down the entire supply chain will better protect consumers by expanding and strengthening our ability to combat price gouging behavior.
Clearly Defining Price Gouging Behavior: The current price gouging statute defines price gouging as an increase in “the price of any item” during a declared emergency, unless the increases are due to, “fluctuation[s] in the price of items sold at retail which occur during the normal course of business.” This language does not offer clear guidance to consumers, businesses, or the Office of the Attorney General as to what may constitute price gouging behavior that is prohibited in Connecticut. The proposed legislation would define price gouging to prohibit the sale of certain goods or services “for an amount which represents an unconsciously excessive price.” This language mirrors language regarding energy resources during emergencies, and also matches language in New York’s price gouging statute.
2021-05-23@3:08pm– #Southport CT– #Fairfield CT– A boat being towed from Virginia to Rhode Island diverted off I-95 due to the earlier accident and struck the railroad overpass on Westway Road. The overpass was clearly marked to be ten feet in height.
2021-05-23@3:07pm–#Bridgeport CT– Police are investigating of a car crashing into a fence stopping short of the building at Willow and Clermont Avenue.
#Norwalk CT– 0543hrs. this morning Norwalk Fire responded to a Structure fire at 7 Reynolds St. owned by Norwalk Linen Service CO.
The fire was already coming through the roof when companies arrived. Five engines & two truck companies responded with 33 firefighters. It took approximately 1 ½ hours to bring the fire under control.
The building is posted unfit for occupancy and is still under investigation . There were no injuries reported.
2021-05-23@1:24pm–#Fairfield CT– A rollover crash on I-95 northbound on the 19 on ramp. The driver is reported to be unconscious and bleeding from the head according to radio reports.
