Bridgeport authorities are investigating two separate morning incidents of vehicle vandalism that occurred just a short drive apart. On December 17, at approximately 7:38 a.m., security at the University of Bridgeport reported that 5-6 vehicles had their windows smashed in an early morning act of vandalism. Then, on December 19 at around 6:08 a.m., multiple vehicles were broken into on the 50 block of Middle Street. The timing and proximity of these incidents, though more than 24 hours apart, have raised concerns among local residents.
While it remains unclear if the two incidents are connected, the Bridgeport Police Department is actively investigating both cases. Authorities are urging residents to take precautions, such as removing personal and valuable items from their vehicles, to deter theft and vandalism.
On December 16, 2024, Ariel Dejesus Valdez, a 28-year-old from Providence, Rhode Island, was extradited to Connecticut following an assault at the North Fairfield Service Plaza on December 7. After the incident, Valdez fled Connecticut and was apprehended in Rhode Island once an extraditable arrest warrant was issued.
Valdez was charged with risk of injury to a child, two counts of reckless endangerment, second-degree strangulation or suffocation, second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree larceny, and second-degree breach of peace. Unable to post a $100,000 bond, he was held at the Bridgeport Correctional Center and was scheduled for arraignment at Bridgeport Superior Court on December 17.
HARTFORD – Senator Tony Hwang has officially been reappointed by Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding to serve as Chief Deputy Leader of the Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus for the upcoming 2025-2026 session of the Connecticut General Assembly.
Hwang was also appointed to be the Republican Leader of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Aging Committee. This committee has cognizance over all matters pertaining to senior citizens. Senator Hwang has long championed issues benefiting seniors, furthering efforts to allow Connecticut’s elderly residents to age in the setting of their choice.
Senate Republican LeaderStephen Harding in his appointment of Hwang said, “Senator Hwang has been a strong leader in our caucus, playing an integral role in accomplishing major goals for Senate Republicans, as well as the people of Connecticut. Senator Hwang has consistently been a champion for Connecticut seniors and for bipartisan, common-sense compassionate policies which help seniors age in place. He is an ideal person to serve in this leadership role.”
Senator Hwang has supported efforts in recent years to combat elder fraud and abuse, protecting seniors from insidious scams. He has also supported increased respite services for family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. In 2023, Senator Hwang voted to expand eligibility for Medicaid Long-Term Care (LTC) Services, and has fought to protect ratepayers of LTC insurance policies. Senator Hwang will continue the work done by the Aging Committee in PA 24-39 and PA 24-141. These bills sought to improve both the quality of life of residents in nursing homes and those aging in place. Senator Hwang applauded the past work of the Aging Committee passing policies such as creating an online nursing home consumer dashboard and limiting the number of residents in a singular nursing home room. He looks forward to joining the committee and working on issues such as aging in place initiatives and homecare and nursing home affordability.
Senator Hwang remarked, “Our senior residents have spent their lives contributing to Connecticut communities. It is essential that we respect their value, diversity and contributions and we should help with their unique needs. Now, as a leader on the Aging Committee, I will strive to maintain healthcare quality and access, improve utility affordability, lower costs of healthcare/prescription drugs, and address taxation issues for our seniors so they may live and thrive in our communities. We must continue this state’s public safety work to protect them from crime, fraud and abuse.”
Letters Will Be Mailed Beginning December 23 Notifying Individuals and Families That Their Medical Debt Has Been Erased
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that nearly 23,000 Connecticut residents who have medical debt will be notified in the coming days that some or all of that debt has been eliminated under the first round of a major initiative his administration launched through a partnership with the national nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt.
The nonprofit contracts with state and local governments and leverages public investments to negotiate with hospitals and other providers on the elimination of large, bundled portfolios of qualifying medical debt owed by patients whose income is at or below four times (400%) the federal poverty level or who have medical debt that is 5% or more of their income. (The current federal poverty level is an annual income at or below $31,200 for a family of four.) Because these medical debts are acquired in bulk and belong to those least able to pay, they cost a fraction of their face value.
Under this first round, the Lamont administration invested approximately $100,000 from the state’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and Undue Medical Debt was able to negotiate with a secondary market partner (i.e. collections agency) and a national provider to acquire approximately $30 million in qualifying medical debt for Connecticut residents.
There is no application process for this medical debt relief and it cannot be requested. Instead, residents whose debt has been identified for relief will receive a branded letter from Undue Medical Debt indicating which debt or debts have been eliminated. Letters under this first round will be delivered to Connecticut residents through the U.S. mail beginning December 23, 2024.
Governor Lamont said that his administration intends on continuing to partner with Undue Medical Debt to enact further rounds of medical debt elimination. The governor and the Connecticut General Assembly worked together to make $6.5 million in ARPA funding available for this initiative.
“Medical debt comes to patients at an extraordinarily difficult time when they are dealing with serious health ailments, and it can frequently follow them around for decades and impact nearly every aspect of their lives,” Governor Lamont said. “This erasure will lift the significant emotional toll that this type of debt has on individuals who do not have the means to get out from under their debt, especially for those who are simultaneously experiencing significant medical problems. This first round will provide relief for thousands of Connecticut residents, and I am hopeful that by continuing this partnership with Undue Medical Debt, we can help thousands more Connecticut residents get their debt relieved.”
“We’re very grateful to the State of Connecticut for this sizable investment in medical debt relief and I’m glad this first round of letters is landing in time for the holiday season,” Allison Sesso, CEO and president of Undue Medical Debt CEO and president said. “Debt relief is only one, albeit important, piece of the puzzle in removing an emotional and financial burden on families. I’m very glad that Governor Lamont has also committed to upstream solutions by way of legislation to ensure medical debts do not negatively impact one’s credit score.”
In addition to this initiative, Governor Lamont recently signed legislation enacting a law that prohibits health care providers and hospitals in Connecticut from reporting a person’s medical debt to credit rating agencies for use in credit reports. That new law – which went into effect on July 1, 2024 – was enacted to protect patients who may have otherwise been apprehensive about seeking essential medical care for fear that any inability to pay could negatively impact their credit rating.
On December 12, 2024, officers spotted a black BMW driving recklessly throughout various city streets at different times. The vehicle was observed in the North End, the East Side, and later back in the North End. Despite numerous attempts to conduct motor vehicle stops, these efforts were unsuccessful. Subsequently, dispatch reported that a vehicle had struck several cars on Main Street and Fairview Avenue, and a male suspect was fleeing the scene. Shortly thereafter, the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Jose Guillermo Rosado of Waterbury, was spotted on Westfield Avenue and taken into custody by Officer Sorie Kamara.
An inventory search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed significant evidence. Officers found 1,325 wax folds containing a white powder substance, which tested positive for fentanyl. Additionally, 54 grams of a white rock-like substance tested positive for crack cocaine. The search also uncovered 10.5 grams of loose fentanyl rocks. The total estimated street value of the narcotics was approximately $18,000. Officers also found $258 in cash, along with a scale and sandwich bags, indicating intent to distribute.
The suspect now faces multiple charges, including engaging police in pursuit, evading responsibility, failure to obey a stop sign, reckless driving, having unreadable license plates, interfering with an officer, possession with intent to sell narcotics, and operating a drug factory.
The bond for Jose Guillermo Rosado has been set at $150,000.
On December 14, 2024, Officer Fischetti conducted a proactive walkthrough of the Charles F. Greene housing complex and observed several males loitering near Building 5. Officer Fischetti and Officer Lewin engaged with the group to ensure they were neither trespassing nor involved in the sale of narcotics. During this interaction, the males complained about another individual, Gregory Thompson, a 21-year-old who does not reside in the complex. While speaking with Thompson, he attempted to retrieve his wallet, at which point Officer Fischetti noticed a baggie of narcotics. Officer Fischetti attempted to secure Thompson’s arm, but Thompson fled, leading to a brief foot pursuit. Officers successfully detained Thompson and placed him under arrest. Upon searching Thompson, Officer Fischetti discovered 18.7 grams of crack/cocaine, which tested positive for fentanyl, $94.00 in mixed denomination cash, two cellphones, and a spring-loaded pocket-style knife.
Thompson was charged with criminal trespass, interfering with an officer, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, and carrying a dangerous weapon. His bond was set at $25,000.00.
Report of a motor vehicle accident on I-95 by exit 29 Southbound. This appears to be a multi car crash and the on ramp is being shut down at this time.
A year-long investigation by the Stratford Police Department, in coordination with state and federal agencies, has resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of significant amounts of illegal cannabis products from the S&T Smoke and Snack Shop at 562 Honeyspot Road.
Between December 2023 and January 2024, police conducted four undercover buys at the shop, leading to the seizure of illegal cannabis, THC gummies, and vape products. Employee Brion Henry Jr. was arrested and charged with four counts of Illegal Possession with Intent to Sell Cannabis.
Despite this action, illegal sales continued. In May 2024, a Confidential Source under 21 purchased a vape product, and employee Scott Marsillo was found with bulk marijuana packaged for street sale. Marsillo was charged with Possession with Intent to Sell Cannabis, while managing partner Raian Baniyounes was charged with multiple counts of Sale of Over One Kilogram of Cannabis.
In December 2024, another compliance check led to the arrest of employee Amilca Miller for selling a vape product to a minor and operating a drug factory. Miller was released on a $1,000 bond and faces additional charges of Possession with Intent to Sell Cannabis.
This investigation was a joint effort between the Stratford Police Department, the Bridgeport DEA Task Force, and Connecticut state agencies. Their collaboration was key to addressing illegal activity at the S&T Smoke and Snack Shop.
At 1:24PM, the Bridgeport ECC received a ShotSpotter activation in the 1400th block of North Ave. As a precaution, Geraldine Johnson School was placed on a lock-in/lock-out. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated the area and positioned at the school as a precaution. However, the incident has been determined to be backfire from a vehicle. There are no further details at this time.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration will be continuing Connecticut’s recently launched Head Start on Housing pilot program, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Connecticut and the nation that identifies young children who are enrolled in Head Start and whose families are experiencing homelessness and connects them with permanent housing support.
Launched in 2022 under the Lamont administration, the program is jointly administered by the Connecticut Department of Housing and the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, and it leverages existing support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s voucher program to connect these families with housing. Head Start is a program that provides low-income families with young children access to free services centered around early learning and development, health, and family well-being.
“Stable housing is among the most important components of a child’s development and wellbeing, and by expanding this state pilot program using federal housing vouchers we will be able to connect more young families to a place they can call home,” Governor Lamont said. “Ensuring families have access to long-term, stable housing is not only possible, but it’s a moral imperative.”
Since its launch, Connecticut’s Head Start on Housing pilot program has housed 144 families consisting of 317 children. Specifically, 85 school-aged children and 232 Head Start/Early Head Start aged children have been housed. Moving forward, the Connecticut Department of Housing will allocate 50 vouchers annually for Head Start and Early Head Start families. Connecticut has engaged housing and Head Start providers in several other states who have requested assistance in modeling the program.
“By cutting the red tape that often occurs when trying to access permanent housing vouchers, we are giving Connecticut children and their families an increased chance of economic and educational success that otherwise may not be possible,” Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno said. “We’re leveraging our existing resources to provide wrap-around services, underscoring once again that continued collaboration is vital for effective programs that help our children and families.”
“By leveraging Head Start’s two-generational model of providing services to both the child and the family, these programs are uniquely positioned to support Head Start on Housing’s goal of providing safe and stable homes for young children and their families experiencing homelessness,” Connecticut Early Childhood Acting Commissioner Elena Trueworthy said. “We know that children’s development can flourish when their families feel healthy, supported, and secure.”
“This has been one of the most rewarding projects I have undertaken,” Dr. Shante Hanks, director of the Head Start on Housing program, said. “It is a privilege to lead this initiative, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to Governor Lamont and our commissioner for their support and innovative vision. I am excited about the opportunity to continue providing Connecticut families with the high-quality homes they truly deserve.”
“We recognize that a stable home environment is essential for students’ academic success and personal development. By sustaining the Head Start on Housing program, we are ensuring that students receive the support necessary to engage meaningfully in their education,” Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker said. “I extend my gratitude to Governor Lamont for his continued commitment to this visionary initiative and the continued partnerships between state agencies to support families with young children.”
Every year, more than 25,000 Connecticut families receive homelessness support and prevention services through the Connecticut Department of Housing.
