Author: Stephen Krauchick

12:38am–Bridgeport–A man in his 60’s was pistol whipped and possibly severely injured after being pistol whipped at his home during a home invasion at 50 Evans Street. Police say homeowner drove himself to the hospital in a newer model red model Mustang which is a rental car with New York plates. The man was assaulted by two black males who wore all black including black ski masks. They beat the man with their chrome revolver when he approached them. They were last seen fleeing on foot, west on Evans Street. It is unknown if any money or property were taken during the invasion. UPDATE–1:11am The red Mustang with the victim has been located on Reservior and Edwards Street. EMTs on the way.

There’s a new community center in Norwalk, and it celebrated its opening on Thursday. Dignitaries included Mayor Richard A. Moccia, State Senator Bob Duff, area residents,
The Christian Community Action Group (CCA) Norwalk, Inc., is a nonprofit, nonsectarian agency now at 76 South Main Street in SONO. It remains one of Norwalk’s most active aid groups, continuing the work it performed when created 40 years ago as a food pantry by St. Paul’s on the Green and The First Congregational Church on the Green.

CCA’s food pantry now feeds over 3,500 residents each year. The agency distributes over 2,000 winter coats and delivers furniture and mattresses to about 1,000 people annually. It disburses over $30,000 in rent, security-deposit and utility-bill payments, and each winter prepares about 40 local high school students for SAT exams. Recent graduates of this program are currently attending or have been accepted to Howard University, UConn, Southern, Western, and NCC.
CCA also offers English-language conversation classes, collects holiday gifts for 800 children each year and collects and distributes children’s books. Our English teacher, Phyllis Weinstein, is trained in both ESL and literacy, and helps her students move from a rudimentary ability in English to be able to handle school discussions, phone calls, and doctor appointments. Area high school students are happy to be at the receiving end of prom dresses distributed by CCA, donated by local residents as well as the Wilton Women’s Club and the New Canaan High School fashion show committee.
CCA is proud of its contributions to the community. With an annual budget of $260,000, it gives back about $1.5 million, based on the value of all the food, furniture, clothing and books, and its classes. It has been recognized by area agencies for its work in feeding the hungry and in offering safety net programs to keep more people from falling into homelessness.
CCA is led by the dynamic Christi Pope, the agency’s executive director and also one of the SAT teachers. Christi, a geologist by training, isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty to get the job done, like driving CCA’s big truck to pick up dozens of mattresses from Yale University and deliver then to drop-off points throughout Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford. “Working for a small NPO brings great rewards and constant variety to my life. The support CCA gets from the community is amazing, and it is wonderful to be a part of these programs that so benefit those in need. I am really excited about the changes coming into our new space. Moving our classes back on site and thinking about the options to increase this aspect of our mission is wonderfully challenging,” said Pope.

Around 3pm shots rang out as school children were returning home from school on Lincoln Ave. Wednesday afternoon. Reports are a black male in a black hooded sweatshirt was firing at a dark blue car. Stray bullets hit two cars including a Ford pickup at the corner of Main Street as he was exiting the Shell gas station.. The bullet hit the pickup’s windshield and exited out his back window, missing the driver by inches, he received scratches on his forehead from shattered glass fragments. In the video you can see children walking home from school on Main Street and a school bus passing in the background. Detectives were called and remained on scene for about two hours. Lincoln Ave. was closed during that time but has reopened.

Just after midnight police, fire department and EMTs were called to Melville Drive in Fairfield for a rollover accident.  Fire department received additional reports of possible fire in the van.  It has been our reporting experience that calls of fire is usually smoke emitted from the air bag deployment.  Firefighters stretched a line but it wasn’t necessary.  Assistant Fire Chief George Gomola told us that the van struck the parked vehicle on the street and took out a fire hydrant as well.  Witnesses told us the van laid on top of the car for a short period of time before rolling on to it’s side into the road.  The driver of the van was checked by paramedics and released.  The driver was seen being tested for driving while impaired, handcuffed and placed into a police cruiser.

Police were called to multiple reports of shots fired on Poplar Street just after 11pm Tuesday night.  One of the callers was EMTSs from American Medical Response who were on scene and heard 20-25 shots fired, other witnesses confirmed this report.    Witnesses report there was more than one gun being fired but it was uncertain if it was the same shooter.  Amazingly no one was shot or injured.  There was one close call for a man who lived at the corner of Poplar Street and Fairfield Avenue as shots whizzed above his head as he slept, glass from the window landing on his chest.    Witnesses told us that the shooter got out for the vehicle he was in and began picking up items in the street, possibly gun shell casing but there were plenty of them left behind.  The vehicle, a dark colored vehicle was seen speed off towards Fairfield Avenue.  Bridgeport Police immediately called Connecticut State Police expecting the car to flee onto nearby I-95.  Police are investigating.

Selectman James Walsh is spotlighting the lease between the town and the Fairfield Theatre Co. for the space the entertainment nonprofit has leased at 70 Sanford St. since 2002.

Walsh said it is his understanding that the FTC brings in yearly revenue of close to $1 million. “How can they only be paying us $40,000?” Walsh told the Fairfield Citizen last week.  Read full story…..

Police discovered water overflowing onto the fields at Jansko Athletic Fields at Clover Field on Canaan Road this afternoon. Thieves cut the copper piping to the water fountain possibly for its value. They only netted about two feet of pipe.

[SlideDeck id=’494′ width=’100%’ height=’400px’]

‎

‎9:52pm–Stratford–Police are investigating a home invasion at 59 Hull Court (off Broadbridge Ave). A six foot dark skinned male pushed open the door and shouted “where’ss the money”. He got small amount of cash and fled on bicycle. A neighbor told me she was an quiet elderly woman in her 70s who kept to herself.

‎8:20pm–Bridgeport–Two car accident at 4000 Main Street in front of the Kentucky Fried Chicken. Fowl play is not suspected.

3:00pm–Bridgeport–Another shootout on busy Lincoln Ave. as school children return home from school. Video report shortly.

4:10pm–#Bridgeport– A Bridgeport Police Officer was injured when dragged by and SUV in the Shoprite Plaza on Boston Post Road Monday afternoon. The officer was sent on a noise complaint of loud music coming from the SUV. A short argument took place and the SUV dragged the officer for a short distance.

Over 150 people joined together at Golden Hill United Methodist Church Saturday night to enjoy a night of old time island culture of music, story telling, dancing and great food. Proceeds benefited a scholarship fund for the West Indian-American Association of Greater Bridgeport Inc. (WIAAGB).

Just before 2:45 Sunday morning a call came in that a Bridgeport Police Officer was involved in a motor vehicle accident at State Street and Mountain Grove Street. Officers tell me she was shaken up but should be alright, she was taken to the hospital. The driver of the other vehicle was also taken to nearby hospital with unknown injuries. Police are investigating.