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.

DoingItLocal.com on Bridgeport Now

I had the opportunity be on Jennifer Buchanan’s Bridgeport Now cable access show. We discussed how DoingItLocal.com started what and why we report on and how we help the community with our reporting.

Car Crashes Into Fairfield Home

Police are investigating on what caused a car to crash into a home on Berwick Avenue Thursday at 7:40pm. When police arrived police were looking for the driver who was inside the home. EMTs from American Medical Response was called to evaluate them. Witnesses tell us it was a woman It is unknown the condition of the woman.

Bridgeports 15th Homicide

Shortly before 3:30pm Thursday police received a call of two young men or teens shot, one fatally and the other person received a serious leg wound. Police did not have the names at this time. A minivan that fled the scene at a high rate of speed was located a short time later behind building 3 of Greene Homes on Highland Avenue across town. The two were gunned down on Hallett and Arctic Street. This marks Bridgeport’s 15th homicide just after the passed a curfew for teens under the age of 18.

As with all breaking news facts change quickly.

WARNING–This video may be disturbing to some viewers. DO NOT Watch if you are sensitive to violence in the streets.

White Powder Scare In Bridgeport

Around 2:45pm Tuesday afternoon police responded to 89 Lincoln Avenue for white powder that was received through a mail slot. Police called the fire department to investigate. State Police and The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) were also called to the scene. The homeowners did not have any threats made to them or the other two families that live in the multi-family home. One person did make contact with the white powder and fire officials had him thoroughly wash his hands and will proceed accordingly once they determine what the white powder is.

Happenings NOW

**Live Breaking News Feed**

2/8/2012

3:43pm—Bridgeport CT–Firefighters on scene at 494 Amsterdam Avenue reporting there was an explosion at the back of this building, no fire, all occupants out for the building safely. Firefighters turning off gas to the building and requesting gas company to the scene.

11:36am–Norwalk CT–Firefighters rush to Flax Hill Park for someone or something under the ice. Firefighters on scene confirm it is a dog and they are attempting a rescue. UPDATE–Sad to report the dog did not make it. Divers pulled from the water.

2/7/2012

10:20pm–Bridgeport CT #Black Rock–A faulty cable at Brewster and Canfield Ave. has the Black Rock Section of the city in the dark. UI crews are on the scene making repairs.

9:28pm–Bridgeport CT–A two car accident at Islandbrook Ext. and Chopsey Hill Road with injuries to children in one of the vehicles.

5:28pm–#West Haven–Report of a structure fire at 241 Park Street. Heavy fire on 2nd and 3rd floors

2:56am–Fairfield CT–Car into a tree at Mill Plain Road and Carter Henry at the entrance to the train station. Air bags deployed (not my mother in law).

1:44am–Bridgeport CT–Bartender at Side Effects on Connecticut Ave. calls police for a man with a gun. A short time later police radio broadcasts indicate they have a person stabbed and EMS was called to the scene. After a short pursuit police detain the fleeing car from the scene on Seaview Ave. Update–Police have one to booking from Seaview Ave. Update–The gun was recovered by police.

1:01am–Bridgeport CT–Firefighters on the way to Crescent Street for wires sparking. Not sure who has power out. One truck with sirens to wake the East Side. UI already notified.

2/6/2012

11:50pm–Derby CT–Cigarette smoke triggered an automatic fire alarm on Minerva Street according to the fire department

7:49pm–Bridgeport CT–Pan Del Cielo Bakery at 1521 East Main Street was just robbed at gunpoint by a tall heavy black male in a black hoodie and khaki pants. When the robber pulled out the gun the store keeper ran to the back and locked themselves in the bathroom.

6:39pm–Fairfield CT—Firefighters are on scene of a water flow problem at 1975 Black Rock Turnpike at Shop Rite, but they say the water is coming from the Webster Bank.

Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning.

cttraffic–Route 188 –Today’s car fire is in #Oxford CT in the 600 block of Quaker Farms Road just past the split near the farm. In other news there was news in Oxford today…..

3:29pm–New Canaan CT–Report of smoke coming from an apartment at 186 Lakeview Ave. possible structure fire. Firefighters on the way.

ATTENTION MERCHANTS–There was an attempt to pass a counterfeit $100 bill at Staples in Fairfield just now.

Train Breakdown in Stratford

2:01pm–#Stratford–Police, fire and EMTs responded to the Stratford Train Station at 2524 Main Street Friday afternoon. A train was disabled and passengers had to transfer to another train according to the fire marshal. EMTs told me there was no heat related issues with any of the passengers. If you recall last year there were a number of passengers affected in Westport last year when a train broke down.

TD Bank Robbed in Bridgeport

Police are investigating another bank robbery at TD Bank at 975 Madison Avenue. The robber was a white male was wearing a New York Giants super Bowl Champions baseball hat and white long sleeved shirt worn backwards. He presented a teller with “give me the money. He did not display a gun and he fled on foot down Madison towards Garfield Avenue. If you have any information please call A Det. Thomas Scholl at 203-581-5250. All calls will be confidential.

Tree Down On Cornhill Street Bridgeport

Storm damage was not as heavy as expected as a fast moving storm swept the area. There were a few reported downed trees, this one at Cornhill Street. Downed power lines have been keep some in the dark.. Bridgeport has 313 reported out, Fairfeidl 531, Easaton 385, Stratford 2,277 and Shelton was the hardest hit with 2,979 out of power.

“Three Big Victories” For Bridgeport Police On Arrests

Bridgeport is safer with three arrests with the shooter in the homicide on East Main Street, the homicide behind Blackham School in 2009, and a man wanted for a recent kidnapping that occurred overnight. Mayor Bill Finch praised the police department saying “They scored three big victories “. Chief Joseph Gaudette Jr. credit the detective bureau in making the arrests and praising his patrol officers and detective bureau as “second to none”. Police also credit the public for coming forward with information that aided in the arrests. Mayor Finch said a lot of “shoe leather was expended on these cases” and that we need these people put a way for a long time asking for judges and prosecutors “expend the same intensity of public service to the public in these cases. “We need the judges to be tough on these cases” to help him keep the streets of Bridgeport safer. Although a bulk of the tips come from people talking to police face to face the chief asked the public to call the detective bureau if they have any tips at 203- 581-5201. All information will be confidential.

Report: Team Vallas Falsifies Documents to Avoid Competitive Bidding

According to documents provided by City of Bridgeport employees, Paul Vallas, Bridgeport’s $229,000 Part-time Superintendent of Schools, or members of his senior staff, provided false information on official City documents in order to use a technique called “sole-sourcing” to give a major City contract to a company called the Public Consulting Group Inc. Jonathanpelto.com has the full story here….