Month: February 2022

Invests in Supply Chain, Workers, International Security

Washington, DC— Today, Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) voted in the House of Representatives for the America COMPETES Act. The bill passed by a vote of 222-210.  The COMPETES Act is designed to support our country’s workers and families by making investments in supply chain, domestic manufacturing, research and development, and strengthening America abroad.

“When we passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Congress made a commitment to fund, roads, rail, bridges, waterways, broadband, and the framework that keeps Connecticut, and the rest our country, running,” said Himes.  “Today, The America COMPETES act is continuing the essential work that is at the top of Americans’ minds – building an economy that benefits everyone, now and in the future.”

The America COMPETES Act addresses several issues that are holding back the American economy by making investments in securing the supply chain and building American manufacturing capability, so families have access to goods when they need them. In addition, the bill invests significantly in research and development, expanding several initiatives related to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence as well as seeking advanced solutions to climate change and other pressing issues.  Notably, the package includes measures to address China’s human rights abuses.

“These investments will help companies like ASML in Wilton, which employs more than 1,600 employees, by bolstering our advanced manufacturing supply chain,” continued Himes.  “The research and development components of the bill will help keep the U.S. at the cutting edge of innovation and growth, while also protecting our position as the global leader in technology in areas like cyber, AI, and quantum. I’ve called for investments like this for years from my position on the Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research Subcommittee of the House Intelligence Committee and am glad to see parts included here.”

The COMPETES Act also includes a provision from Congressman Himes that would further empower the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the Treasury Department to enact special measures against international individuals or entities engaged in money laundering.

“Drug smugglers, arms runners, sex traffickers, slavers, and other criminals will use any means necessary to avoid having their assets seized or frozen,” said Himes.  “If there are mechanisms through which the bad guys can hide their money, they will use them. Right now, FinCEN is trying to fight with one hand tied behind its back. This provision will allow them to follow the money trail, wherever it leads, and shut it down, while maintaining the transparent public-comment period as it exists now.”

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The Fairfield Police Department is receiving numerous reports of scam calls which appear to target Doctors. The calls involve the individual claiming to be a member of the Fairfield Police Department. The call also appears to come from our non-emergency telephone number. The recipient of the call is told they missed a court appearance in which they were required to provide expert testimony in a case potentially involving a patient and that as a result, a warrant for their arrest has been issued. Some recipients report receiving a voicemail stating there is a “confidential legal matter” that needs to be discussed and are given a number to call back which does not belong to the Police Department.
These calls are fake and the phone number on the Caller ID is being “spoofed” or altered to appear as if they are coming for the Police Department. Please just ignore the call and do not respond. The Fairfield Police Department does not generally call individuals regarding active arrest warrants and never calls anyone regarding missed court appearances.
The recipients of these recent calls immediately recognized the call as a scam and contacted police, however, these types of calls usually result in the scammer soliciting money for bond and threatening immediate arrest if the bond is not paid. The Fairfield Police Department does not take bond payment over the phone and bonds are only ever accepted following an arrest, not to prevent one.
We encourage any resident who is contacted by an unknown individual and is asked for money to contact the Fairfield Police Department if they are concerned or in doubt about the legitimacy of the call. Odds are, the call is a scam with the purpose of extorting individuals for money.
Anyone receiving such a call may contact Police at (203) 254-4800.
More information on protecting yourself and family from falling victims to scams can be found here:https://fpdct.com/news-releases/fairfield-police-provide-tips-on-how-to-protect-yourself-family-from-falling-victim-to-scams/

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2022-02-05@12:55pm–#Bridgeport CT– Report of a pedestrian being struck on Willison Street at Central Avenue.

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2022-02-04@10:19pm–#Shelton CT– #ctfire– Firefighters on scene at Molnar Drive for a fire in the living room. Arriving firefighters report that there is a down branch in the long driveway with downed electrical wires complicating things. Turned out to be a surge protector on fire that melted and is now out.

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(Westport, CT February 4, 2022) The Westport Police Department is seeing an uptick in what is referred to as “check washing” cases. Check washing is the process of erasing the details from an already completed check to allow them to be rewritten. In most instances, checks that have been put in mailboxes and are awaiting pickup by a postal employee are stolen. Once stolen, the suspect(s) alter the check by changing the payee as well as the amount and then cash or deposit it at a bank. The checks that end up being “washed” have been stolen from both residential and United States Postal Service mailboxes within Westport.

To prevent this from occurring, the Westport Police recommends that our residents/visitors avoid placing checks they have written directly in free standing mailboxes. Instead, it would likely be safer to either complete the transaction electronically and if that is not possible mail the check from inside the post office. Although inconvenient, adhering to these suggestions should reduce the occurrences of this type of crime in town. The Westport Police Detective Bureau is actively investigating each of these cases.

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2022-02-03@11:24pm–#Bridgeport CT– Man was shot in the face while at the YMCA on the State Street side. The man said the person that shot him was up in his room. Police are investigating.

2022-02-03@10:18pm–#Norwalk CT– #Westport CT– A suspect wanted in a Norwalk home invasion fled northbound on I-95 and spun out near exit 17. State police are asking K-9 so I’m assuming the suspect has fled on foot in the area.

The Bridgeport Police Department is asking for the Public Assistance in locating a Missing Adult, from the East End of Bridgeport. Aslin Pedraza is 48 years old Hispanic female, 5’2”, 215 lbs, medium brown complexion, reddish/brown hair possibly in a ponytail.

She was last seen on 02/02/2022 at 8:00 am. She was last seen wearing a black jacket (hip length) with a pink zipper, gray sweatpants, and ankle high brown boots. She suffers from mental illness and other health issues needing medications on a daily basis which she did not take with her. She also did not take her phone or her credit/debit cards. Pedraza is familiar with the Downtown area of Bridgeport and may have had bus tokens.

If you have any information, please contact the Bridgeport Police Department at (203) 576-7671 or Detective Abe Konoval at (475) 319-0267.

2022-02-03@1:24pm–#Bridgeport CT– #ctfire– Firefighters were called to the 800 block of Ellsworth Street for a fire in the walls. Their quick response time kept the fire in the one location and it did not spread to any other part of the home.

2022-02-02@ 8:37am–#Bridgeport CT– On Wednesday a person jumped into a vehicle that was running at a location near Truman St and Madison Ave. The person who owned the vehicle proceeded to shoot at the suspect inside his vehicle while party was fleeing down Madison Ave. No injuries reported, vehicle has been recovered and party that discharged his weapon has been detained.

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