Month: April 2024

Ax Wielding Man Apprehended After Foot Pursuit

Fairfield Police UPDATE:

FAIRFIELD, CT – On April 16, 2024, at approximately 10:52 PM, the Fairfield Police Department
responded to a report of a suspicious individual at Hemlock Hardware, located at 1860 Post Road.
Officers arrived on the scene to find a male subject, later identified as Orlando Roper (DOB: 06/21/1988)
of New York, NY, behaving erratically.
Roper was observed behind his vehicle parked near an adjacent business, brandishing an axe. Despite
officers’ attempts to engage him peacefully, Roper made statements indicating his desire for Officers to
use deadly force in order to gain compliance.
Efforts to de-escalate the situation were made, but Roper fled on foot while still wielding the axe. Officers
engaged Roper in a foot pursuit across railroad tracks and eventually Interstate 95. Despite the
deployment of less-lethal measures, Roper persisted in his flight until he was eventually surrounded by
officers, dropping the axe without further resistance.
Orlando Roper was subsequently arrested and charged with Breach of Peace 2nd Degree (53a-181) and
Interfering with Officers (53a-167a).
“We are reminded of the inherent dangers and uncertainties our officers confront daily. However, we are

fortunate to have a team of dedicated professionals trained in employing less-lethal measures and de-
escalation tactics. Their swift and skillful actions resulted in the successful resolution of a situation that

could have tragically unfolded in a vastly different manner. We commend our officers for their
unwavering commitment to preserving life and ensuring the safety of our community.”
The Fairfield Police Department further extends its gratitude to our partner agencies, including the
Connecticut State Police and Westport Police Department, for their assistance.

2024-04-16@10:57pm–#Fairfield CT– Police have a perimeter set up on the Mill Plain Road area for a man with an ax. A business owner observed on his security cameras of man going behind the business. Police approached the man who was carrying an ax saying they’d have to shoot him. The pursuit went from the Post Road over the train tracks onto Mill Plain Road into the cemetery, then onto I-95, and now back on Mill Plain Road where they have him in custody. The trains and I-95 were both halted for a short time.

Sliver By The River

The city of Bridgeport received a federal grant to take what used to be the old train station and turn it into a water-accessible park open to the public. Sliver by the River is a 3-acre public site in Downtown Bridgeport that sits on the Pequannock River next to the Stratford Avenue Bridge. Council President Aidee Nieves said that there will be food trucks which means commerce and people coming to the downtown area. Mayor Ganim stated, “I would like to thank our partners at Trust for Public Land and Groundwork Bridgeport for helping us secure grant funding for the ORLP grant. I would also like to thank the National Park Service for awarding us the funding to help begin Phase I of this project. I’m excited to see what will come of Sliver by the River as I remain committed to creating more green spaces in our city and recapturing the waterfront. Our residents will have increased accessibility to spend more time outdoors and enjoy special characteristics that make Bridgeport the city that it is.” Out of the twelve states that have been awarded the grant, the City of Bridgeport is the only city to be awarded this grant in Connecticut. Sliver By The River’s website can be found here: https://www.sliverbytheriver.org/home

Stratford Library Hosts Edible Wild Plants Program April 25


The Stratford Library will host a special workshop “Edible Wild Plans and Fungi of Spring”,
an informative and entertaining seasonal presentation on Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 pm. The
program is free and open to the public.
As the warmer temperatures and longer days of spring unfold, many tender, young edible
shoots, plants, flowers, and even a few fungi awaken a forager’s senses and delight. At the
Library program, attendees will learn how to identify, sustainably harvest, and prepare the wild
foods of spring, from invasive bamboo shoots to the lemony tang of fresh wood sorrel, including
some of the early edible fungi of the season.
Guest speakers for the program are “The 3 Foragers”, a family from southeastern
Connecticut who have been identifying, photographing, and cooking with the edible plants and
fungi of New England for more than 18 years. Their educational slideshow will focus on family-
friendly, environmentally sustainable harvest of both native and invasive species of plants, and
ways to incorporate these foods into a diet with original recipes.
“Edible Wild Plans and Fungi of Spring” will be held in the Stratford Library Lovell Room
on April 25 from 6:30-8 pm. All are invited to attend but reservations at:
https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/11974910.
For further information call the Library at 203.385.4162 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org.

Stratford News: Large Fight At Short Beach

2024-04-15@5:49pm–#Stratford CT– Report of a large fight of over 200 people on Short Beach. Police from surrounding towns and state police are on scene. If you have any photos or videos post the in the comments or message them to me for anonymity.

State police now reporting a large fight on the beach in West Haven.

Will New Leadership At State Police Be Enough To Fix State PD?

Daniel Loughman was formally sworn in as Colonel of the Connecticut State Police, succeeding his role as Interim Colonel since November 1, 2023. The ceremony took place at the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden, where DESPP Commissioner Ronnell Higgins administered the oath. Expressing gratitude and humility, Colonel Loughman emphasized his dedication to the men and women of the Connecticut State Police. He lauded their excellence, not only within the state but across the nation, highlighting the agency’s 120-year legacy of citizen protection. “I am honored to lead the Connecticut State Police and serve alongside our committed troopers,” stated Loughman. “Having visited each of the 11 barracks during my interim tenure, I’ve gained valuable insights into our troopers’ needs and aspirations. I am eager to support them in their mission to safeguard our state.” Loughman underscored the troopers’ core values of trust, integrity, and reliability, emphasizing their paramount duty of ensuring public safety. He pledged to uphold the longstanding traditions of the agency, established since its inception in 1903. With over 18 years of service as a trooper, Colonel Loughman brings a wealth of experience to his new role. His previous assignments include serving as Commanding Officer of the Office of Professional Standards and Training, as well as holding leadership positions in the Labor Relations Unit and various Troops across the Central and Western Districts. The Connecticut State Police, the state’s largest law enforcement agency, comprises 930 sworn members responsible for providing primary law enforcement services to 78 towns and safeguarding most state properties. Their duties extend to patrolling approximately 7,000 miles of state highways and serving in various specialized units.

Exit mobile version