Month: September 2022

Bridgeport News: Homeless Family Doused

Bridgeport Police said: At 2242hrs on Wednesday September 21, 2022 the Bridgeport ECC received a 911 call from a female party indicating she is homeless and sometimes sleeps at the bus stop area at Huntington Plaza and wants to report a male party on a scooter threw a white product at her and her adult son. Bridgeport Police, Fire and AMR responded. BFD and AMR assessed both parties who both refused medical assistance. At this time the product was deemed to be a dry chem/extinguisher product or baking soda however; it was deemed nonhazardous.

2022-09-21@11:35pm–#Bridgeport News: A homeless family living in the parking lot of Huntington Plaza on Huntington Road was doused with some sort of substance. Firefighters were also called to the scene. I will try to get an update in the morning.

ATTORNEY GENERAL URGES FTC TO STRENGTHEN CAR RULES TO PREVENT CONSUMER HARM, MISREPRESENTATIONS

Automobile issues regularly top consumer complaints for AG offices

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general calling on the Federal Trade Commission to adopt and strengthen guidance on automobile sales.

The comment letter supports the FTC’s proposed updates to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule related to the sale, financing, and leasing of motor vehicles by motor vehicle dealers, while proposing several suggestions to further strengthen the rule.

The proposed Rule, published in the Federal Register on July 13, would provide a critical tool to address misrepresentations and prevent consumer harm.

“No one likes surprise fees and unexpected add-ons when purchasing a car. Last year alone, our office received more than 500 car-related complaints. The FTC’s proposed changes are an important step to ensuring transparency and combatting unfair and deceptive car sale tactics, but even more can and should be done. I look forward to working alongside the FTC to support these important efforts,” said Attorney General Tong.

Attorneys general frequently hear from consumers with complaints over vehicle sales. In 2021, the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office received 564 auto-related complaints.

The FTC’s proposed rule is a necessary step in combatting unfair and deceptive acts in the vehicle marketplace. It aligns with existing guidance from industry trade groups, as well as state laws and regulations.

The proposed rule would:

  • Prohibit motor vehicle dealers from making certain misrepresentations in the course of selling, leasing, or arranging financing for motor vehicles.
  • Require accurate pricing disclosures in dealers’ advertising and sales discussions.
  • Require dealers to obtain consumers’ express, informed consent for certain charges.
  • Require transparency about add-on products and their pricing.
  • Prohibit the sale of any add-on product or service that confers no benefit to the consumer.
  • Require dealers to keep records of advertisements and customer transactions.

While we believe these updates will enhance the ability to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive practices, we offer the following suggestions to further strengthen the rule:

  • Require price disclosures in writing regardless of the form of the inquiry
  • Require that price disclosures provide complete information on the cost to purchase or finance the sale of a vehicle
  • Require written disclosures and obtain written consumer consent before the purchase of any optional add-ons
  • Require auto dealers to retain records on all contracts for the duration of the contract.
  • Set a time limit for dealers to pay off the lien on any traded-in vehicle to protect consumers and ensure a fair marketplace
  • Regulate the use of starter-interrupt devices to encourage safety and transparency

In their letter, the attorneys general thank the FTC for addressing a lack of transparency in the current Motor Vehicle Dealers Trade Regulation Rule. The coalition hopes the final rule will enhance protections for consumers and ensure a more competitive and equitable marketplace.

This press release was made possible by:

NO Active Shooter At Mall

Trumbull Police UPDATE:

On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, the Trumbull Police were called to the Westfield
Trumbull Mall to investigate several reports of an armed robbery involving a firearm.
Responding officers were able to locate and identify the men that were involved, and
recover a firearm that was discarded nearby. Pedro Diamond, age 22, of Merrimac Drive
Trumbull, Chase Dralle, age 19, of Johnson Street Trumbull, Jeremy Romero, age 23, of
Greenwich Avenue Stamford, Tremayne Ferguson, age 21, of Sanford Street West
Haven, Isaiah Johnson, age 22, of Oak Lane Trumbull, and Derrick Rivera, age 18, of
Alsace Street Bridgeport were all arrested for their involvement in this incident.

Shortly before 4 p.m., several Trumbull police officers responded to the mall and learned
that a group of men had been involved in a fight where they attacked one man who then
removed a gun and pointed it at his attackers. All of the men then scattered and fled the
area prior to police arrival. Investigating officers learned that there was not an actual
robbery, but an altercation had occurred between these men in the lower level area near
Macy’s. It was also learned that as Rivera fled, he discarded a “fanny pack” near the
Macy’s upper level walkway. Officers took these six (6) men into custody as they
attempted to flee and officers also recovered the “fanny pack” that was discarded by
Rivera which was found to contain a loaded .22 caliber pistol, and a bag of marijuana.

September 20, 2022 Page 2
Rivera was arrested and charged with Threatening 1st degree, Reckless Endangerment,
Carrying a Pistol without a Permit, and Breach of Peace. He was held on a $10.000 bond,
and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on September 30, 2022. Rivera
was also issued an Infraction for Possession of Marijuana.

Diamond, Dralle, Romero, Johnson and Ferguson were arrested and charged with Breach
of Peace. They were each held on a $500 bond, and are scheduled to appear in
Bridgeport Superior Court on September 28, 2022.

NO Active Shooter At Mall 2022-09-20@5:00PMish– My phone blew up with texts and messages that there was an active shooter at the Trumbull Mall. I called Frank Recchia to make some phone calls to find out more while I made my way there.. I had a city council person call me to ask about it, along with other viewers who said they received a notice on the Ring alert. I did find a gathering of about 5 police cars between the food court and the bus stop. I appeared to be a disturbance of some sort. I did see a man poking his head out of the back of the police car talking to a woman but there definitely was no shooter. I appreciate the calls and texts from everyone and of course Frank Recchia making the calls!

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