Category: Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT POLICE ARREST CITY WOMAN FOR ROBBERY THAT WAS TIED TO MARCH HOMICIDES

Back on March 30th, 2024, two city men were shot and killed while committing an armed robbery inside an illegal gambling club on Stratford Avenue.

On Tuesday, the Bridgeport Police arrested a Bridgeport woman who helped run the club by conspiring with those men to pull off the crime.

Shanica Merced, 35, was taken into custody on an active felony warrant during a motor vehicle stop by Bridgeport Police Task Force Officers on the East Side. She was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Robbery in the First Degree, as well as Illegal Gambling, for her role in helping to run the club.

Merced’s bond was $250,000.

Shortly before midnight on March 30th, Tayvon Geter, 33, and Richard Davis, 30, were killed in an exchange of gunfire, when of one the gamblers they were robbing at gunpoint inside of the club opened fire. The gambler was also struck by several bullets, but survived. Shanica Merced was grazed by a round while fleeing the gunfire.

In June, Marcus Famer, 37, also of Bridgeport, was also arrested on an illegal Gambling warrant for his role in running the club. Farmer was inside the club at the time of the incident. Police do not believe he was involved in the robbery. Farmer was a parole obsconder when he turned himself in on the warrant.

He was also charged with stealing a gun from one of the suspects, after the suspect was shot, and was laying on the ground. Farmer was also charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm and Tampering with Evidence. He was remanded to the custody of the State Department of Corrections.

The investigation found that Merced and Farmer also had a personal relationship, outside of their roles in operating the club.

Sean Ellam, 38, of Bridgeport, was also arrested in May as part of the investigation. Police found Ellam stole a gun from the other suspect while the suspect lay dead on the ground outside of the club in the aftermath of the shootings. Ellam was charged with Stealing a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Tampering with Evidence.

The arrests were part of a comprehensive investigation into the incident, which was conducted by Bridgeport Police Department’s Homicide Unit, with assistance from the Office of the State’s Attorney.

Detectives used extensive surveillance video as part of their investigation. The video showed Shanica Merced allowing Geter and Davis, who were the only ones wearing masks, into the club, and sitting alone with them for an extended period before they began the robbery.

Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter Sr., and other city officials held a press conference outside of the shuttered club at 1542 Stratford Ave. following the shootings, to ensure that it would not be reopened, and to encourage citizens to report the presence of such establishments in their neighborhoods.

Bridgeport Armed Robbery

An armed robbery happened today at 1100 Boston Avenue around 5:14 PM. The suspects were driving a black Acura and a red Dodge Charger with dark tinted windows. At 6:07 PM, an officer spotted a red Dodge Charger that looked like the one described, heading toward Hollister Avenue in our town. Since there’s an entrance ramp to the interstate on Hollister, State Police were alerted to watch out for the suspect vehicle. Troop G reported they haven’t seen any cars matching the description on the highway. The victim said he was robbed of $4,000.

Mayor Ganim Announces Restructuring Affecting Public Safety and Other City Departments

Bridgeport, CT— Continuing in his efforts to enhance the operations of city government, today Mayor Ganim is announcing some restructuring to certain city departments. Among the changes are a long-term plan at the Emergency Operations Center to expand and enhance the City’s 911 capabilities, a shifting of roles and responsibilities between Civil Service and the Office of Labor Relations, and the filling of key positions within the Police and Fire Departments.

See below for more information regarding the new Police and Fire appointments:

John Cueto – Assistant Chief of Police

John Cueto graduated manga cum laude in 1987 from Sacred Heart University with a B.S. degree in Finance, and earned the highest academic award among his peers in the Bridgeport Police Department training academy. He later graduated summa cum laude from Sacred Heart University with a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Throughout his 27-year tenure with Bridgeport, Cueto rose to the rank of Lieutenant and held several posts including Aide to the Chief of Police, Director of Fiscal Services, and Commander of the department’s Emergency Services Unit (ESU). Throughout his time with the Bridgeport Police Department, he attended the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum, as well as participated in many professional police organizations.

In August 2015, Cueto was selected among 140 applicants in a competitive process to become the Chief of Police of Duck, North Carolina. While in this post, he led several efforts to modernize the department, implement body cameras, establish a nationally recognized organizational structure, and implement efforts to improve community relations and community policing. In his capacity as Chief of Police, he also served on the Board of the Dare County Crime Line and a Regional Director for the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police.

Upon his retirement as Chief in August 2020, Chief Cueto was recognized by FBI Director Christopher Wray with a written letter of achievement. He has continued to attend national conferences and training seminars hosted by the FBI National Academy, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executive Research Forum, and the Fraternal Order of Police. Cueto has stayed current on issues affecting law enforcement and has been asked to speak on a number of panels regarding a variety of law enforcement issues. He has also been involved with the advancement of the National Public Safety Broadband Network, FirstNet.

Mark Cody – Deputy Fire Chief

Deputy Chief Mark Cody, a native of Bridgeport, began his career with the Bridgeport Fire Department 24 years ago. In March of 2008, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to the busiest engine company in the city. During his time as a Lieutenant, Cody was also assigned to the Eastside Assistant Chief as the Chief’s Aide. There he conducted the daily staffing, operational accountability, and incident command duties. He later served in the same role for the Westside Assistant Chief.

In 2020, Cody was promoted to the rank of Captain, and was assigned as the Captain of Administration. In that post he supervised payroll and managed the purchasing of equipment, vehicles, and software. He has an A.S. in Fire and Occupational Safety and is currently working towards his B.S. in Fire Administration. During his time of service, he has also obtained the following certifications: Fire Instructor-1, Fire Officer 1 & 2, Incident Safety Officer, Health and Safety Officer, and Public Information Officer.     

Robert Marrero – Fire Marshal

Acting Fire Marshal Robert Marrero began his career in Bridgeport in 1996 as a Firefighter. In 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Pump Engineer, where he held that position for 10 years. In 2015, Marrero was promoted to the rank of Fire Inspector where he was certified by the State of Connecticut to conduct inspections on various types of buildings such as, schools, hospitals, and manufacturing plants. During his years in the Fire Marshal’s Office, he has conducted many fire safety presentations, investigated large scale incidents, and has enforced the Connecticut State Fire Code with many businesses here in the City of Bridgeport.

Marrero is a Certified Master Electrician in the State of Connecticut and Florida. Over the years, he has attended Housatonic Community College as well as the University of Southern New Hampshire. Marrero also holds several other certifications including Fire Instructor-1, Fire Officer-1, Advanced Fire Investigator, Public Life Safety Educator, and Emergency Medical Technician.

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