Local News in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, Norwalk, and Beyond!
Author: Stephen Krauchick
DoingItLocal is run by Steve Krauchick. Steve has always had interest with breaking news even as an early teen, opting to listen to the Watergate hearings instead of top 40 on the radio. His interest in news spread to become the communities breaking news leader in Connecticut’s Fairfield County. He strongly believes that the public has right to know what is happening in their backyard and that government needs to be transparent. Steve also likes promoting local businesses.
On Saturday March 23 at NOON, State Rep Tony Hwang is going into Long Island Sound at Jennings Beach as part of “Freezin’ for a Reason” Polar Plunge! Rep Hwang realizes that this sounds like an absolutely silly and really “COLD” idea but there is a very good reason for his freezin’ plunge – to help raise money for Wakeman Boys & Girls Club – Southport, Stratfield, Bridgeport!
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to do something silly and fun like this to celebrate the 100th Birthday of the Wakeman Club!” Rep Tony Hwang added, “for the past 100 years, The Wakeman Club has helped and made a huge difference in the lives of tens of thousands of young adults. I want to support their mission and help Wakeman begin their next century with a big splash. Please make a DONATION to my “Freezin’ for a Reason” request and support the invaluable positive difference that Wakeman Club makes in our community.”
Thank you for your generous support in advance and let’s work together to making huge contribution to help The Wakeman Boys & Girls Club.
9:37pm–Fairfield Ct–Bicyclist hit by a car in front of Dairy Queen at 1902 Post Road.
9:17pm–Bridgeport CT–Police watch a car travel at a high rate of speed down the wrong way on Frontage Street and crash at the corner of Broad Street. EMS on the way.
7:40pm–Bridgeport CT–Pedestrian hit by a car in the parking lot at CVS 3710 Main St
7:10pm–Bridgeport Ct Black Rock–Report of two men looking into homes for possible break in at Courtland Ave. and Midland area.
6:50pm-Bridgeport CT–Report of an unresponsive naked man in the middle of the road at Iranistan and Olive Street. Passerby put a blanket on him….nothing more to see.
6:45pm–Bridgeport CT–Police break up a domestic fight with a person with a gun but one person stabbed in the abdomen at 2649 Main Street (near Salem Street).
4:44pm–Fairfield CT–Car accident, one car on it’s side at Post Road and Unquowa Road (Community Theater).
3:27pm–Fairfield Ct Southport CT–Pedestrian hit by car on Center Street in front of the Wakeman’s Boys/Girls Club.
2:54pm–Bridgeport CT– Accident between school bus and car between Madison ave and North ave. Update: There are no children on the bus.
2:17pm–Norwalk CT–Today’s car fire is on Chestnut Street.
1:06pm–Norwalk CT–A freon leak sets off the smoke detectors at The High Road School of Norwalk at 17 North Avenue.
FAIRFIELD, CT, February 28, 2013: The Fairfield Fire Commission announced the promotions of Lieutenants Scott Trembley of Ansonia and Brian McHugh of Fairfield effective Friday, March 1st at a special meeting last Monday night in the John Sullivan Independence Hall. The promotions were made from a list promulgated by the Fire Commission earlier in the month as the result of written and oral examinations which took place in January at which two Assistant Chiefs and five Lieutenants were promoted. Many family members were in attendance for Monday’s meeting at which both new officers were asked to stand for applause when their name was announced; a more formal ceremony will be held in early March at a Fire Headquarters on Reef Road for family, friends and department members to celebrate their promotion. “There’s a big turnover in our department, and I’m looking forward to working with these new officers to give our citizens of Fairfield the excellent public service they deserve,” said Chief Richard Felner. “As I’ve said many times in the past, this is another example of our family taking care of your family.”
Scott Trembley is a sixteen year veteran with the Fairfield Fire Department and the recipient of two Joseph J. Stopa Life Saving Medals for his participation in the rescue of a hunter in cardiac arrest on Farmstead Hill Road several years back and earlier in his career for performing rapid CPR and defibrillization on a patient in cardiac arrest whose life was saved by his actions. Brian McHugh is a thirteen year veteran of the Fire Department and the recipient of two Joseph J. Stopa Life Saving Medals for his actions in the Farmstead Hill Road rescue and his efforts at a cardiac arrest patient whose life was saved on Melville Drive, the Joseph S. Elias Meritorious Service Award for his actions at a tanker truck fire on I-95, two Unit Citations for motor vehicle accident extrications on the Merritt Parkway and on North Benson Road by Fairfield University, and is a member of the Department Honor Guard and Hazardous Materials Technician Response Team. “Family is very important to me, and to stand before the Fire Commission to receive this promotion with my wife, father, mother, sister, mother-in-law and son was a great honor,” said McHugh. “The opportunity to serve the community where I was raised and am raising my children is something I value more than I can say.”
Westport CT– At approximately 6 pm Saturday night the Westport Police Department received a report of a pedestrian having been struck by a motor vehicle on the Post Road by Bulkley Avenue North.
Arriving officers found the victim, an elderly male lying in the westbound lane next to the vehicle and immediately began medical treatment. The victim was transported from the accident scene to Norwalk Hospital by Westport EMS where he was later pronounced deceased. Police Department identified the deceased person as Bruce
Tabackman, age 68, of Fairfield, CT.
Preliminary information in the accident investigation is that the deceased was not in a crosswalk whenhe was struck by the motor vehicle. The Westport Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact the Westport Police Department at 203-341-6000.
1:48am–Fairfield CT–A man on a blue motorcycle and wearing a skully cap exposed himself to a Bridgeport woman at the Dunkin’ Donuts at the Circle on the Post Road. The woman went home and reported the incident to Bridgeport Police. EMS was initially dispatched as it was reported as a sexual assault. Fairfield Police were dispatched to the woman’s home in Bridgeport. Fairfield Police located a motorcycle matching that description which had an expired registration.
1:22am–Fairfield CT–Second call tonight for loud large crowd outside the Sky Hookah Lounge on 689 Kings Hwy E this time in the Firestone parking lot.
1:18am–Bridgeport CT–Car accident at Main and George Street and two flee the scene last seen running towards Greene Homes.
12:14am–Bridgeport CT–Pedestrian hit by a car at Barnum Ave. and Nobel Ave. Pedestrian reportedly has gone thru the windshield.
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11:57pm–#Bridgeport CT–Report of heavy smoke coming from the 3rd floor at 130 Anton Street. Firefighters on the way. UPDATE–Just food burning on the stove.
11:40pm–Bridgeport CT–Police disperse 40-50 cars on Seaview and Central where they appeared to be gathering for a race. Police know they will move on to another location.
9:55pm–Bridgeport CT–Man strung out on PCP gets out of his car and leaves it in the middle of Boston Ave. near Dover Street. Another person jumps in and steals it. Police are looking for a white four door car with Florida plates last seen headed down Central Ave.
8:18pm–Westport Ct–We have a report of a pedestrian being hit on the Post Road near the Shake Shack. UPDATE–Pedestrian dies, see report.
1:31pm–Danbury CT–Structure fire around 1:30pm on Peace Street from Mayor Mark Boughton
2:47am–Stratford CT–UPS employee on Honeyspot Road allegedly caught stealing. Police on the way. See, it’s not always taken from your doorstep!
2:15am–Bridgeport CT–Police are investigating shots fired at Jefferson and Seaview Avenue. So far nothing hit.
1:33am–Bridgeport–Police breaking up a large crowd after an assault at Main and George Street.
Police from Fairfield asked the Public Health Committee Wednesday to allow them to regulate hookah lounges, which they said can currently act as de facto nightclubs in their town. Capt. Joshua Zabin, the Fairfield Police Department’s patrol commander, said officers often respond to calls at hookah lounges, which operate from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. He said it has a negative impact on the neighborhood. CT News Junkie has the full story here…..
K-9 Convinces Suspect to Lie Down
(Bridgeport, CT – Feb. 28, 2013) – A 19-year-old thought better of bailing from a stolen vehicle when confronted by K-9 Trace and his partner Mark Martocchio. On Tuesday, Martocchio was on patrol when he spotted a 2013 Nissan Rogue that was listed on the daily stolen car sheet. The vehicle pulled into a gas station at Park and Wood avenues and the driver exited and walked toward the gas pump. He returned to the sport utility vehicle after seeing police. He tried to drive off but Martocchio blocked him in and exited the squad car with his K-9 Trace. The driver, Phillip Silas, 19, of Kelsey Street, started to bail out of the car but stopped when he heard the dog barking. The officer gave a verbal command to get on the ground or the dog will be released. “Silas looked over his shoulder and decided to lie down on the ground as requested,” Martocchio said.
There were no injuries, the stolen car was recovered and Silas was charged with first-degree larceny. His bond was set at $20,000.
Police Find Assault Suspect, Knife in Garage
A 32-year-old man was charged Thursday with assaulting a woman who had rebuffed his romantic advances. At 2:17 a.m., Officer Daniel Paz was sent to a gas station in the 1300 block of Noble Avenue for an assault victim. He found a 23-year-old female victim with cuts to her hands. She told Paz and Officer Michael Divila that she was watching television with a friend in her room when the assailant kicked in the door and attacked them with a knife. All three work together and live in the same multi-family house.As police and medics tended to the woman, who had defensive wounds to her hands, Officers Ean Smith and Roberto Quintanilla and Sgt. Robert Magnuson went to the location of the assault at 1251 Noble St. They found the male victim, 31, who gave the same account as the female victim. After some searching, the officers found the suspect, Pedro Ciriaco-Cantu, 32, hiding in a rear garage. He was placed under arrest and then showed police where he hid the knife. The suspect was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. The female victim declined transport to the hospital. The male victim was taken to Bridgeport Hospital.
1982 Mack fire engine went on its final call for service in Bridgeport
(Bridgeport, CT – March, 2013) – A 1982 Mack fire engine went on its final call for service in Bridgeport – to bring hope to an island nation 1,500 miles away. The decommissioned pumper left Bridgeport Friday for Massachusetts, where it will be loaded onto a military transport plane and begin its journey to Haiti. “I’d like to thank the Bridgeport Fire Department, which for many, many years took tender loving care of this Mack fire engine. This has many years of life saving left in it,” said Mayor Bill Finch at the send-off ceremony. “The City of Bridgeport is so proud to be able to take its still serviceable fire apparatus and give it to countries that need the help, like Haiti.”
The truck is being driven to Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Mass., where it will be loaded onto a military transport plane. It ultimately will arrive in Port-au-Prince and be driven to the city of Petion-Ville, a city of 280,000. To make it happen, the city partnered with Haiti-works Inc., a local non-profit dedicated to relief efforts and rebuilding in Haiti after the 7.0 earthquake.
“Today is such a great day for all Haitians,” said Pierre d’Haiti from Haiti-works, Inc . “This is what it is all about. This is not just a red machine going to Haiti. It is hope that we are bringing to the island of Haiti.” Councilwoman Michelle Lyons, who spent a decade doing missionary work in Haiti, was instrumental in making the donation a reality. She also worked with Congressman Jim Himes to bring a resolution to Congress urging municipalities around the country to donate decommissioned equipment to Haiti. “This is an exciting moment,” she said at the send-off.
Deputy Fire Chief Robert Petrucelli said the engine had been used as a spare until last year, when it was taken out of service completely. Usually, the fire department goes through an auction process to dispose of unneeded equipment but City Council passed an ordinance allowing the department to donate equipment to countries in need. The City has previously donated fire trucks to the Dominican Republic.
(Westport, CT) Thursday, February 28, 2013, at approximately 5:02pm, Westport Police Dispatch received a 911 call of a road rage incident involving a firearm. The caller reported he was traveling east on Post Road East approaching the Bulkley Avenue intersection when a white male jumped out of his vehicle and pointed a black hand gun at him. The caller was able to obtain the license plate of the vehicle which was registered in Trumbull. The operator and vehicle description were given to Fairfield Police as this was their direction of travel. Fairfield Police located the suspect vehicle on Pemburn Drive in their town and waited for Westport officers to arrive and investigate the incident. A black Glock 9mm semi automatic hand gun was located on the waist of the suspect, 21 year old Tyler C. Keiser. The gun was safely taken from Keiser without incident.
It was reported that Keiser cut off the victim who then flashed his high beams at Keiser. Reportedly, Keiser then exited his vehicle and brandished the firearm.
Keiser was charged with Threatening 2nd degree 53a- 62, Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree 53a-64 and Breach of Peace 2nd degree 53a-181 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Keiser was released on a $2500 bond and is scheduled to appear in the Norwalk Court on 03/08/13. The handgun was seized as evidence. The investigation revealed that the firearm is registered to Keiser and that Keiser has a carry permit for the weapon.
Earlier tonight an Amber Alert was issued, looking for a white 2001 Chrysler Town and Country minivan out of North Stonnington CT. We were the only news source to report that Deborah Denison had taken her grandchildren from daycare, had a .38 revolver and had suicidal tendencies. We were the first new source in the country to report that the van was located around a lake running near Foxwoods parked by Lake of Islles. Trooper One, the state police helicopter is in the air searching. The Major Crime Unit was called to the scene to investigate. Sadly the van was found with all three dead in the minivan along with a suicide note in the van. Troopers and EMS responded to the scene, and the car from the Amber Alert was located. Six-month-old Aston Perry, 2-year-old Alton Perry and Debra Denison, 47 were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. State Police have begun their investigation.
