Alex

Bridgeport Police search warrant leads to 10 arrests involved in drug factory

On March 7, 2024, at 6:30 a.m., the Narcotics and Vice Unit, assisted by the Bridgeport Police Task Force, executed a search warrant at 22 Marsh Way in response to ongoing quality-of-life complaints from neighborhood residents. The operation led to the seizure of crack cocaine and associated narcotics materials, resulting in the arrest of ten individuals over the last seven weeks, including Alberto Otero (33) faces charges of sales of narcotics, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, operating a drug factory, and criminal possession of ammunition. Jessica Villafane (45) is charged with sales of narcotics, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and operating a drug factory. Michelle Coughlin (42) faces charges of possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and operating a drug factory.

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Scam Alert!

On the morning of March 7, 2024, Connecticut State Police received two unrelated phone calls from victims with the same last name who both have out of state phone numbers but reside in Connecticut. In the first instance, the victim took a phone call from a male who appeared to have an accent and advised the victim that they were investigating text fraud. The caller then attempted to verify personal information of the victim. In the second instance, the caller also appeared to have an accent and identified himself as being a US Marshal working with CT State Troopers. He told the female victim that there was an arrest warrant for her. Both victims became suspicious and hung up on…

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Bridgeport Vape Shop Shooting Update: Suspect in Custody, Details Emerge from January Incident

Joshua Mercado, a 41-year-old part owner of the "Elevate CT" vape shop, turned himself in to Bridgeport Police in connection with a double shooting that occurred on January 28, 2024, in downtown Bridgeport. The incident began inside the vape shop and escalated into a street altercation. Mercado, a convicted felon, faced charges, including Assault in the 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Pistol/Revolver, Illegal Discharge of a Firearm, and Breach of Peace. The shooting incident unfolded in the 1100 block of Main Street, with a 27-year-old Milford man suffering a gunshot wound to the buttocks. Two others, a 29-year-old Naugatuck woman and a 57-year-old Naugatuck woman, sustained injuries during a related motor vehicle crash. Another victim, a 23-year-old Bridgeport man,…

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Bridgeport News: Aggravated Assault with a Firearm

On March 3, 2024, at approximately 10:15 pm Bridgeport Police responded to ShotSpotter activations (15 rounds) within the 300 block of Wells Street.  ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system. Once gunshots are fired in an area covered by this service, police receive a notification within one minute directing them to the location of the gunfire.  Upon arriving in the area, Officers were unable to locate a victim or a crime scene.  A short time later, 2 male victims presented at an area hospital suffering from gunshot wounds.  The first victim, a 21-year-old Bridgeport man, arrived at the hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to an extremity (leg).  The second victim, an 18-year-old Bridgeport man, arrived at the hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to his…

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MAYOR GANIM AND THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT ANNOUNCES GLASS RECYCLING AT THE BRIDGEPORT TRANSFER STATION

BRIDGEPORT, CT – The City of Bridgeport is pleased to announce residents can now bring separated glass for recycling to our transfer station. As a part of the City of Bridgeport’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and addressing solid waste issues, specific bins for residents to voluntarily recycle glass have been established at the transfer station on Asylum Street. Examples of recyclable glass includes glass jars (mayonnaise, tomato sauce), glass liquor bottles, and glass dishes. These new bins, courtesy of Oak Ridge Recycling, give Bridgeport environmentally minded residents a way to recycle and save the city money. “Tipping fees for Bridgeport’s municipal solid waste continue to rise,” stated Mayor Ganim. “These new bins at the transfer station give residents who chose…

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Westport Author Hilary Burns at Stratford Library March 10“Meet-the-Author” Event is Special for “Women’s History Month”

The Stratford Library will host Westport author Hilary Arnow Burns for a special “Meet- the-Author” program on Sunday, March 10 at 2 pm.  Burns will discuss her humorous new advice book, Real Talk: How to Say the Things You’ve Never Said So You can Have the things You’ve Always Wanted. The talk, presented as part of the nationwide celebration of “Women’s History Month”, is free and open to the public. In her latest book Hilary Burns, host of the “Getting Real With Hilary Show”, reveals the real cost of not speaking up: broken marriages, lost jobs and profound unhappiness. Using her signature “Getting Real Process”, Burns teaches women and men how to finally get what they’ve always wanted by harnessing the…

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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION AND CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE ANNOUNCE EXPANDED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT TO REDUCE HIGHWAY FATALITIES AND RECKLESS DRIVING

ROCKY HILL -- Across the state, from Route 15 to I-84, I-91 and I-95 to rural roads, the Connecticut State Police have launched expanded efforts to reduce highway fatalities through targeted enforcement. These initiatives, which have already begun, include using police data to guide additional patrols and enforcement saturation along highways where crashes and fatalities have become more common. Gov. Ned Lamont joined Interim Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Ronnell A. Higgins, Interim Col. Daniel Loughman, commanding officer of the CSP, and Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto to make the announcement Thursday along I-91 in Rocky Hill. Connecticut has seen an unacceptable increase in driving and pedestrian fatalities as concern has grown about unsafe…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SEEKS TO BAN PREDATORY AND DECEPTIVE REAL ESTATE LISTING AGREEMENTS FOLLOWING CONNECTICUT INVESTIGATION

(Hartford, CT) – Following an investigation that uncovered nearly 400 deceptive real estate agreements in Connecticut through the company MV Realty, Attorney General William Tong today urged legislators to pass legislation banning the multi-year predatory listing deals and nullifying all existing unfair contracts. MV Realty is a Florida-based company with two licensed realtors in Connecticut. An investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General revealed that the company has targeted hundreds of lower-income homeowners in Connecticut, offering residential exclusive listing agreements, which MV calls “Homeowner Benefit Agreements.” Through these agreements, MV provides a small cash payment of a few hundred dollars in exchange for the exclusive right to list their homes for sale for a period of 40 years.…

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Brooklyn Man Arrested for Stealing Israel Flag Signs in Westport

On February 27, 2024, William Banks, a 27-year-old resident of Brooklyn, NY, was arrested by the Westport Police on charges of Larceny 6th. The arrest stemmed from a larceny investigation initiated by the Westport Police on December 30, 2023. The investigation was prompted by a complaint regarding the theft of Israel Flag yard signs in the Colony Road neighborhood. During the investigation, the officer in charge witnessed William Banks, who was driving a white vehicle, stealing another yard sign and fleeing the area while speaking with the complainant. Subsequent inquiries revealed that a total of five (5) Israel Flag yard signs were stolen. With the assistance of law enforcement sharing, the suspect was identified as William Banks, leading to the…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SEEKS BANKING CONSUMER PROTECTION REFORMS

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong submitted testimony and will testify today before the Banking Committee in support of expanded authority to investigate and bring civil enforcement actions regarding bank consumer financial protection failures. Attorney General Tong will testify remotely at the Banking Committee hearing taking place at 11 a.m. today, February 27 in Room 1B of the Legislative Office Building. The legislation would empower the Office of the Attorney General to enforce critical provisions of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA), also known as title X of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to conduct investigations of alleged deceptive and anti-consumer practices. Federal authorities and other state attorneys general have…

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