2022-10-21 #Bridgeport CT– There is a swatting incident at Harding High School today. Swatting is the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address. Many parents have reached out to us after hearing that there was a shooting incident at the school but that was part of the swatting incident. Frantic parents calling the school told me they only told them that they were in lockdown. This was all a prank.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a new website for the state agency (ct.gov/dmv) that streamlines all of the online services it offers in an effort to make completing transactions for customers easier, faster, and more convenient. The newly revamped website also contains several expanded language options, including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Additionally, the governor announced that in the coming weeks the DMV will be adding the ability for customers to conduct two more transactions online, including requesting refunds when canceling vehicle or vessel registrations, and replacing lost titles. Until now, those transactions could only be completed using paper forms. These new offerings will add to the DMV’s list of more than two dozen online services that have been added over the last several years, which include driver’s license renewals, vehicle and vessel registration renewals, updating addresses, and requesting driving records.
Governor Lamont said that it has been a priority of his administration to move more state government services online – including those from the DMV – so that Connecticut residents can skip in-person visits to state offices, as well as the need to submit paper forms through the U.S. Mail.
Average customer wait times at DMV offices have significantly decreased over the last several years following the implementation of several new policies and procedures. In 2018, the average wait time at these offices was more than an hour. Today it is less than 15 minutes.
“Sitting around at a DMV office waiting to conduct a transaction is frustrating, and I’ve been determined to implement policies that make interacting with this agency more convenient and less time consuming,” Governor Lamont said. “Each time we’ve launched a new online feature, we’ve seen a corresponding decline in the number of in-person visits people are making to DMV offices, which also results in wait times being shortened for those who actually do need to conduct transactions in person. Connecticut residents deserve a state government that is dedicated to changing with new technology and making transactions as easy as possible.”
The DMV worked closely with the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services to implement the website upgrades.
“The DMV’s modernization efforts strive to create a digital experience for Connecticut residents, rooted in what customers value,” DMV Commissioner Sibongile Magubane said. “We refreshed our entire website, making it easier for customers to locate the information they need within just a few clicks.”
“Our team has been laser focused on moving services online to best align with Governor Lamont’s vision for a digital government,” DMV Deputy Commissioner Tony Guerrera said. “DMV will continue to identify opportunities for improvement that make it easier for residents to access our services.”
Over the last several years, the Lamont administration has implemented several new policies to streamline services at the DMV and reduce wait times at its offices. Some of these include:
In June 2019, Governor Lamont signed into law legislation he proposed that reduces the frequency residents are required to visit the DMV by requiring driver’s licenses to be renewed every eight years rather than every six years as the law previously required.
In June 2020, the DMV moved to an appointment-only system that requires customers who plan on visiting an office in-person to schedule a specific time and location to complete their transaction – a move that has significantly helped decrease wait times.
In February 2021, the DMV added the ability to renew driver’s licenses and non-driver ID cards online.
In March 2021, the DMV added the ability to request duplicate driver’s licenses, request duplicate non-driver IDs, and request driving history online.
In June 2021, Governor Lamont announced that the number of customers choosing to renew their licenses over the internet began outpacing the number of renewals being completed in-person at DMV offices, demonstrating that the choice to renew licenses online has become the preferred method for Connecticut residents.
STREAMLINED DMV WEBSITE AND ADDITION OF MORE ONLINE SERVICE OPTIONS
Initiative Part of Lamont Administration’s Efforts to Reduce In-Person Visits and Wait Times at DMV Offices
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has launched a new website for the state agency (ct.gov/dmv) that streamlines all of the online services it offers in an effort to make completing transactions for customers easier, faster, and more convenient. The newly revamped website also contains several expanded language options, including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Additionally, the governor announced that in the coming weeks the DMV will be adding the ability for customers to conduct two more transactions online, including requesting refunds when canceling vehicle or vessel registrations, and replacing lost titles. Until now, those transactions could only be completed using paper forms. These new offerings will add to the DMV’s list of more than two dozen online services that have been added over the last several years, which include driver’s license renewals, vehicle and vessel registration renewals, updating addresses, and requesting driving records.
Governor Lamont said that it has been a priority of his administration to move more state government services online – including those from the DMV – so that Connecticut residents can skip in-person visits to state offices, as well as the need to submit paper forms through the U.S. Mail.
Average customer wait times at DMV offices have significantly decreased over the last several years following the implementation of several new policies and procedures. In 2018, the average wait time at these offices was more than an hour. Today it is less than 15 minutes.
“Sitting around at a DMV office waiting to conduct a transaction is frustrating, and I’ve been determined to implement policies that make interacting with this agency more convenient and less time consuming,” Governor Lamont said. “Each time we’ve launched a new online feature, we’ve seen a corresponding decline in the number of in-person visits people are making to DMV offices, which also results in wait times being shortened for those who actually do need to conduct transactions in person. Connecticut residents deserve a state government that is dedicated to changing with new technology and making transactions as easy as possible.”
The DMV worked closely with the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services to implement the website upgrades.
“The DMV’s modernization efforts strive to create a digital experience for Connecticut residents, rooted in what customers value,” DMV Commissioner Sibongile Magubane said. “We refreshed our entire website, making it easier for customers to locate the information they need within just a few clicks.”
“Our team has been laser focused on moving services online to best align with Governor Lamont’s vision for a digital government,” DMV Deputy Commissioner Tony Guerrera said. “DMV will continue to identify opportunities for improvement that make it easier for residents to access our services.”
Over the last several years, the Lamont administration has implemented several new policies to streamline services at the DMV and reduce wait times at its offices. Some of these include:
In June 2019, Governor Lamont signed into law legislation he proposed that reduces the frequency residents are required to visit the DMV by requiring driver’s licenses to be renewed every eight years rather than every six years as the law previously required.
In June 2020, the DMV moved to an appointment-only system that requires customers who plan on visiting an office in-person to schedule a specific time and location to complete their transaction – a move that has significantly helped decrease wait times.
In February 2021, the DMV added the ability to renew driver’s licenses and non-driver ID cards online.
In March 2021, the DMV added the ability to request duplicate driver’s licenses, request duplicate non-driver IDs, and request driving history online.
In June 2021, Governor Lamont announced that the number of customers choosing to renew their licenses over the internet began outpacing the number of renewals being completed in-person at DMV offices, demonstrating that the choice to renew licenses online has become the preferred method for Connecticut residents.
#Trumbull CT– On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, Trumbull Police arrested the occupants of a stolen vehicle after a short pursuit and recovered a number of drugs and two handguns during the apprehension. Manasia Bennett, age 20, of Middletown, and Maureece Fussell, age 25, of Wethersfield, both ran from the vehicle but were captured by the pursing officers nearby. Both were charged with a variety of criminal and motor vehicle charges related to the vehicle theft and pursuit, as well as possession of narcotics and weapons.
Just after 9:00 PM, Trumbull police observed a Honda Passport, that had previously been reported stolen from Meriden, traveling near Daniel’s Farm Road. As officers attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, Fussell drove the Honda towards arriving officers and struck a police vehicle causing the Honda to become disabled between the struck patrol car and a tree in a residential yard on Laurel Street. Fussell and the passenger, Bennett, then ran from the stolen vehicle, but after a brief foot chase Fussell was apprehended after being tackled to the ground and Bennett was quickly located hiding nearby. Bennett later reported of difficulty breathing, and Fussell reported being injured, so Trumbull EMS responded and transported Bennett to St. Vincent’s Hospital, and Fussell to Bridgeport Hospital where they were treated and later released from the hospital under continual police custody.
Fussell was found to be in possession of over forty (40) bundles of Fentanyl, two (2) bags of crack cocaine packaged for sale, $1,000 cash, and the key fob for the stolen Honda.
Also located were two (2) loaded semi-automatic firearms: a .40 caliber Glock with a thirty (30) round extended magazine containing three (3) bullets, and a 9 millimeter Taurus with a twelve (12) round magazine containing four (4) bullets.
Both Bennett and Fussell have lengthy criminal histories as Bennett is a supervised
a person with Adult Probation and Fussell is listed on the Deadly Weapon Offender registry Bennett was charged with Interfering with an Officer, Illegal Possession of Weapon in Motor Vehicle, Criminal possession of a Pistol, Possession of Drugs with Intent to Sell, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense, Carrying a Pistol without a Permit, Illegal Delivery/Transfer of Prohibited Firearm, and Illegal Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine. Bennett was held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on October 31, 2022.
Fussell was charged with Interfering with an Officer, Illegal Possession of a Weapon in
Motor Vehicle, Criminal possession of a Pistol, Possession of Drugs with Intent to Sell,
Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense, Carrying a Pistol without a Permit,
Illegal Delivery/Transfer of Prohibited Firearm, Illegal Possession of a Large Capacity
Magazine and Larceny 1st Degree. Fussell was held on a $250,000 bond. Fussell was
additionally charged with Reckless Driving, Engaging Police in a Pursuit, and Operating a Motor Vehicle without a License, and held on an additional $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on October 31, 2022.
The Bridgeport Police arrested a 59-year-old homeless man on Wednesday night who robbed an 84-year-old grandmother on her porch in The Hollow section last week (see the attached video of the robbery.)
Norberto Santiago, DOB: 07/27/63, (see the attached photograph) was taken into custody by patrol officers on a felony warrant at approximately 7:00 p.m., several blocks from where the robbery occurred at around 9:00 a.m. on 10/13/22.
Santiago was charged with Robbery in the Third Degree, Criminal Trespass in the First Degree, Larceny in the Sixth Degree, and Breach of Peace in the Second Degree.
His bond was set at $150,000.
The 84-year-old victim was sitting in a chair on her porch when she was robbed. She was not injured.
Santiago made a statement to the Detective Bureau’s Robbery/Burglary Unit regarding the robbery. He admitted the victim gave him money for food the day before the robbery.
The Bridgeport Police Department would like to thank members of the community who helped make the arrest possible.
Santiago was living in an abandoned house in The Hollow known for drug use and prostitution. The City of Bridgeport’s Anti-Blight Department boarded up the house the day after the robbery.
The arrest by the Bridgeport Police Department and subsequent action by the City of Bridgeport is part of the ongoing effort to eradicate street crime and protect all citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable.
2022-10-20@3:40pm–#Trumbull CT– Report of a FOUR car accident in the Home Depot parking lot at 90 Monroe Turnpike. Did anyone see this? I have so many questions!
2022-10-20@1:10am–#Bridgeport CT– #ctfire– A viewer sent in this video of the fire at 484 East Main Street. Firefighters were able to keep the fire contained to the back porches with no extension into the apartments. The Red Cross was called to help 7 people with immediate needs after the fire.
2022-10-19@10:53pm–#Bridgeport CT–A car hits a Trane Air Conditioner condenser and coil, also causing damage to the building at the corner of Maplewood and Clinton Avenue. There were no reported injuries.
