“With the legalization of adult use marijuana in the state of CT, the City of Norwalk has seen an alarming rise in the illegal sale of marijuana from smoke shops and other retail establishment that sell vape and smoking paraphernalia. Our investigations have determined that some smoke shops are illegally selling marijuana and other illegal THC products that consumers believe are safe but are not. Most recently, ZaZA Smoke Shop was found to be in possession of illegal marijuana laced with fentanyl, an extreme public safety hazard, that led to an arrest and an ongoing investigation. The Norwalk Police Department is committed to investigating and taking action against any smoke shop in the City of Norwalk that illegally sells marijuana and other THC products. If anyone has information on illegal sales of marijuana from smoke shops, please contact us.” – Chief James Walsh
On Wednesday, August 7th, 2024, the Norwalk Police Special Services Division executed search and seizure warrants, along with a federal arrest warrant, at Cocchia’s Liquor Store on Ely Avenue in Norwalk. Information had surfaced about a Mexican male named “Felix” selling large quantities of cocaine from the store. An investigation involving controlled purchases of cocaine identified “Felix” as Felix Galindo-Castillo, also known as Cocchie. Galindo-Castillo, who had an active federal arrest warrant, was also found to be the founder of the violent Los Vagos Gang based in Mexico. The federal New York arrest warrant charged him with illegal re-entry into the United States, with a bond set at $1 million.
The search warrants covered both Cocchia’s Liquor Store and Galindo-Castillo himself. Officers discovered seven full-size illegal gambling machines within the store, which were found in two separate locations. These machines, which pay out cash collected at the front counter through a receipt ticket from the gambling device, are illegal. Additionally, several bags of cocaine were found in the walk-in beer cooler and on the persons of Galindo-Castillo and another individual, Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima.
Two facsimile handguns were located on a shelf under the cash register, and approximately $4,932 in US currency was seized from the gambling machines and found wrapped in rubber bands with gambling receipts hidden in various liquor boxes. The proceeds from the illegal gambling and cocaine sales will be applied for through state asset forfeiture. The inner control servers for each gambling machine were also seized during the search. This investigation is ongoing and marks the second time in a year that arrests have been made at this location for narcotics and gambling violations. The Norwalk Fire Department Fire Marshalls Division and the CT State Consumer Protection Division (Liquor Control) assisted in this investigation.
Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima, 44, of Norwalk, was arrested on August 7, 2024. He faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit/possession of a controlled substance, illegal gambling, sale of a controlled substance, and conspiracy to commit/sale of a narcotic substance. His bond is set at $55,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court on August 21, 2024.
Felix Galindo-Castillo, 48, of Norwalk, was also arrested on August 7, 2024. He faces charges of sale of narcotics, conspiracy to commit/sale of narcotics, possession of narcotics, conspiracy to commit/possession of narcotics, and fugitive from justice for a federal New York arrest warrant charging illegal re-entry into the United States. His bond is set at $55,000, with an additional $1,000,000 bond for the fugitive from justice charge. He is scheduled to appear in court on August 21, 2024.
The Annual Vincent Penna Jr Memorial Car Show, hosted by the Italian American Police Society of Southern CT, will be held this Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT. The car show is raising funds for the Vincent Penna Jr Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarship awards funds to the education of local children in the community.
Vincent Penna Jr passed away unexpectedly in December of 2020 at the age of 51, leaving behind his wife and teenage sons, in addition to countless family members, friends, colleagues, and fellow officers who admired his passion for his family and community. Vincent Penna Jr was an officer with Westport for 26 years, becoming the Deputy Chief of the Department before his retirement in 2017.
This event is expected to have hundreds of classic and exotic cars and thousands of automotive enthusiasts. There is a $20 fee to enter your car, no cut-off years, and spectators are free. There will be live music by Clue and the Honkytones, raffle prizes, food trucks, trophies, and more. Thanks to more than 150 sponsors, the IAPS of CT will be giving away more than $40,000.00 in prizes.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 6:54 PM, Norwalk Police Combined Dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired at the 200 block of Ely Avenue, the Roodner Court Public Housing Complex. Patrol Officers arrived and found evidence of gunfire. A 15-year-old victim was subsequently dropped off at Norwalk Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The Detective Bureau took over the investigation, leading to the swift arrest of the shooter. Further investigation revealed the involvement of other participants, resulting in arrest warrants for those individuals. As of now, all involved parties have been arrested.
Essence Broome, 33, was arrested on August 2, 2024. She faces charges of Risk of Injury to a Child and Trespassing 3rd Degree, with a bond set at $100,000. Her court date is August 16, 2024. Latrel Stewart, 24, was also arrested on August 2, 2024. He is charged with Breach of Peace 2nd Degree, Criminal Attempt of Assault 2nd Degree, and Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree, with a bond set at $50,000. His court date is August 16, 2024.
On the morning of July 25, 2024, members of the U.S. Marshals Service, along with the Norwalk Police Patrol Division, arrested Jeffrey Farr at his residence on a full extradition warrant. Farr was wanted in San Diego, California, for two felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of fourteen, with the victim being a family member. He was booked and charged as a fugitive from justice at Norwalk Police Headquarters. Jeffrey Farr, 70, of 104 East Rocks Road, was arrested on July 25, 2024. He faces charges of fugitive from justice and is being held on a $400,000 bond. His court appearance is scheduled for July 25, 2024.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 6:54 PM, the Norwalk Police Department received multiple 911 calls of shots fired in the Roodner Court Public Housing Complex at 261 Ely Ave. Patrol Officers arrived on the scene and found evidence that shots had been fired. As officers were on scene, information was gained that a 15-year-old victim had been dropped off at Norwalk Hospital suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Norwalk Detectives assumed the investigation and gathered enough evidence to charge a 16-year-old juvenile with the shooting. The juvenile was remanded to Juvenile Detention.
The case remains active and ongoing. The arrested juvenile faces charges of Assault 1st, Reckless Endangerment 1st, Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit, and Illegal Discharge of a Firearm.
On April 30, 2024, the Norwalk Police Department received a complaint regarding a Norwalk Public School employee allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student. The Norwalk Police Department Special Victims Unit assumed the investigation. During the investigation, it was determined that Luisa Melchionne, a Nathan Hale Middle School Guidance Counselor, was sexually involved with a male student. An arrest warrant was issued for Melchionne, and she was arrested without incident. Melchionne, 47 years old, is no longer employed by the Norwalk Public Schools. She was arrested on July 11, 2024, and charged with Sexual Assault 2nd degree and two counts of Risk of Injury to a Minor. Her bond was set at $500,000.
On Wednesday, June 26th, Detectives from the Norwalk Police Special Victims Unit, with assistance from the Monroe Police Department, located and arrested Joseph Mejia of Charlotte, North Carolina, at a residence in Monroe, CT.
After a several months-long investigation, a warrant was obtained for Mejia, charging him with Sexual Assault 4th Degree and two counts of Risk of Injury to a Child.
The investigation centered around an incident from 2021 involving Mejia and a minor. Mejia was held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 10, 2024.
In May of 2023, the Norwalk Police Department’s Special Victims Unit began investigating an incident where a 4-year-old child was reported to have been sexually assaulted by Ricardo Cruz Cisneros.
This investigation culminated in an arrest warrant issued on July 1, 2024, for Cruz Cisneros. During the early morning hours of July 2, 2024, Cruz Cisneros was observed driving in Norwalk and subsequently taken into custody without incident.
Ricardo Cruz Cisneros, 27 years old of Norwalk, faces charges of Sex Assault 1st Degree and Risk of Injury to a Minor. He is held on a $750,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 16, 2024.
Norwalk Police Tip Line: 203-854-3111
Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at:
www.norwalkpd.com
Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NORWALKPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to TIP411 (847411)
On May 15, 2024, Norwalk Police patrol officers responded to a call about a 6-year-old child who had not returned home from after-school activities sponsored by the Norwalk Housing Authority.
Officers found the child asleep in a Housing Authority passenger van parked in their lot. A follow-up investigation by the Special Victims Unit revealed that Vladimir Galette, the Housing Authority van driver at that time, had failed to follow protocols by not checking the van for passengers before securing it for the evening.
An arrest warrant for Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree was applied for and granted. Galette, age 47, was located on July 4th in Stamford and arrested without incident.
He was charged with Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, with a bond set at $10,000, and is scheduled to appear in court on July 15, 2024.
2024-07-01@7:45pm–#Norwalk CT– A woman waiting on roadside service called police to report that a man in his fifties or sixties driving an older black pickup truck stole her tire on I-95 northbound between exits 15 and 16.
