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Norwalk Stabbing Arrest

On September 17, 2023 at approximately 2:02 PM, Norwalk Combined Dispatch received a 911 callstating that a male was stabbed in front of 23 Ely Avenue.Multiple officers responded to the area to provide emergency medical aid and to look for the suspect.Upon their arrival to the scene, officers were quickly able to provide medical assistance to thevictim, who was stabbed on the right side of his abdomen. As an officer tended to the victim, otherofficers were able to locate the suspect, Jose Luis Pineda-Rodrigues, in close proximity. Officerswere able to locate a crime scene and Norwalk Detectives assumed the investigation.The victim was transported to Norwalk Hospital for treatment to his injuries.Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is…

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Shooting Incident

On September 16, 2023, at 10:12 p.m. Norwalk Combined Dispatch received a 911 callregarding a person who had been shot at 261 Ely Avenue. Patrol Division Officers arrived withintwo-minutes and located two victims. Officers provided medical aid to a male victim who hadbeen shot in the back, and a female victim who had been shot in the arm. Both victims weretransported by ambulance to Norwalk Hospital. A third victim, who sustained a gunshot injury tothe foot arrived at Norwalk Hospital by private vehicle a short time later. Detectives assumed theinvestigation and the Crime Scene Unit processed the scene for evidence. Anyone who witnessedthe incident or has any information is asked to contact Detective Taylor at (203) 854-3183 orLTaylor@norwalkct.gov. Anonymous tips…

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New York Man Arrested in Westport for Identity Theft and Personal Information Trafficking

On October 4, 2022 Westport Police initiated an investigation after a complainantreported that they had a check fraudulently altered and cashed. The complainant provided thebasic information of the incident, and the case was turned over the Detective Bureau. ThroughLaw Enforcement sharing Westport Detectives were advised that Wilton Police had arrested Mr.Licona in September 2022 for similar financial crimes. At the time of his arrest, a laptop and cellphones were seized. Search warrants were executed on these devices and evidence from ourlarceny case was located on his electronic devices. An arrest warrant was signed and on August3, 2023, Westport Detectives responded to Westchester Correctional Center and arrested Mr.Licona. He was transported to Westport Police Department where he was charged with theabove…

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Narcotics Arrest

During May 2023, the Special Services Division began receiving information that Joshua Powell wasselling large quantities of powder and crack cocaine that contained fentanyl within the City of Norwalk.An investigation was initiated into Powell’s narcotics trafficking enterprise. Over the next severalmonths, investigators made several controlled narcotics purchases from Powell. As a result of theirinvestigation, five arrest warrants were issued for Powell charging him with sale of a controlledsubstance.On August 10, 2023, at 7:30pm, officers from the Special Services Division observed Powell on MainStreet. As Officers approached, he attempted to discard cocaine. Powell was taken into custody withoutincident. The cocaine seized during the arrest field tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. Arrested: Joshua Powell, 30 of StamfordCharges: Sale of Narcotics…

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GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT’S 2023 SALES TAX-FREE WEEK RUNS FROM AUGUST 20 TO 26

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut will hold Sales Tax-Free Week from Sunday, August 20, 2023, to Saturday, August 26, 2023. During this one-week sales tax holiday, retail purchases of most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the Connecticut sales and use tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing under $100 regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer on the same invoice. “This tax-free holiday is scheduled at the perfect time to help families stretch their dollars during the back-to-school season, while also giving businesses an extra boost to their bottom line,” Governor Lamont said. “I encourage everyone taking advantage of these savings to shop…

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GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS LEGISLATION PROTECTING SENIORS FROM FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law legislation implementing procedures into state statutes that protect seniors from suspected cases of financial fraud, scams, and exploitation by a person who is taking care of an older adult. Specifically, this law authorizes financial institutions to temporarily suspend or hold transactions involving an account of an adult over the age of 60 if there is a reasonable suspicion of financial exploitation, which is defined as taking advantage of an eligible adult by another person or caretaker for monetary, personal, or other benefit, gain, or profit. When such cases occur, the financial institution should disclose the suspected abuse to the Connecticut Department of Banking or the Connecticut…

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STATE REPRESENTATIVES JENNIFER LEEPER, CRISTIN McCARTHY VAHEY, SARAH KEITT APPLAUD $162K GRANT FOR FAIRFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST 

State Representatives Jennifer Leeper (D-Fairfield, Southport), Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D-Fairfield, Bridgeport), and Sarah Keitt (D-Fairfield, Trumbull) today applauded the $162,000 grant announced for the Fairfield School District for school mental health specialists.  The funds will be broken up over three years, with the school district receiving $60,000 in 2024, $60,000 in 2025, and $42,000 in 2026.  The competitive grant comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and is meant to increase the number of mental health workers in schools.  “As Vice-Chair of the Education Committee, I have heard firsthand from parents and educators how important mental health is to the success of our students,” Rep. Leeper said. “Funding for mental health specialists is critical for every school district…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ANNOUNCES $470,000 SETTLEMENT WITH OPTIMUS HEALTH CARE OVER FALSE CLAIMS AND IMPROPER BILLING ALLEGATIONS

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General today announced that Optimus Health Care, Inc., a federally-qualified health center (“FQHC”) based in Bridgeport, has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and has paid a total of $470,093.93 to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to the Connecticut Medicaid program, and received overpayments from Medicaid for ineligible services. Optimus Health Care, Inc. (“Optimus”) has 23 locations in southwestern Connecticut. As an FQHC, Optimus receives patient revenues and grants from the federal and state governments. “Optimus Health Care repeatedly overbilled Connecticut’s Medicaid program,…

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Sen. Tony Hwang: CT Construction Industry Stands Ready to Build Transportation Infrastructure, Recruit Future Workers

Sen. Tony Hwang, the Ranking Senator on the Transportation Committee, on Aug. 7 met with Connecticut Construction Industries Association (CCIA) President Don Shubert and Tilcon Connecticut President Carolina Cavalcante to discuss the industry’s challenges, innovations in transportation infrastructure improvements and workforce recruitment efforts.  “I wanted to hear firsthand from CCIA, which represents various sectors of the construction industry, and Tilcon, a business that has played a key role in building transportation infrastructure around the region,” Sen. Hwang said. “What I heard from these experts is this: The construction industry is not only hiring, but also anxiously looking to recruit and train the next generation of Connecticut workers. Tilcon, a division of CRH, for example, does business in my senate district…

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