Category: Westport

#Westport CT–On Saturday, March 4, 2023, at approximately 11:30PM, officers responded to the area of 575 Riverside Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle accident with serious injuries.

The initial report was that the nature of the accident was vehicle versus pedestrian.

Emergency responders located and rendered aid to a male victim that had been struck by a southbound vehicle. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries and was ultimately transported to Norwalk Hospital for further treatment.

Members of the Westport Police Department’s Accident Investigation Team, along with the Accident Investigation Team of the Fairfield Police Department, responded to the scene to conduct the investigation into the incident. This necessitated a temporary closure of Riverside Avenue in both directions of travel and has since been re-opened to traffic.

The operator of the vehicle remained at the scene to speak with responding officers and is fully cooperating. The accident remains under investigation by the Westport Accident Investigation Team.

The victim in this incident has been identified as Matthew Balga, age 54, of Norwalk, CT.

This press release was made possible by:

#Westport CT– On January 18 th , 2023 Officers responded to the parking lot of Shake Shack on a report of a theft from a vehicle. The responding officer located the complainant in the parking lot standing next to his work van. The complainant reported that he was inside a business doing work and when he returned to his work van, he noticed that it had been entered, rummaged through, and tools had been stolen. Leaving the parking lot, the complainant observed a black pickup truck containing some of his items in the bed of the truck. The investigating officer reported the suspect vehicle and shortly thereafter, Fairfield Police Department advised that they had stopped the vehicle and located items belonging to our complainant. The operator of that vehicle was identified as Jimmie Bennett. A warrant was submitted and approved charging Mr. Bennet with the above-referenced charges. On February 10 th , Mr. Bennett was in Stamford Superior Court on an unrelated matter when the Judicial Marshalls advised they were holding him on our warrant. Mr. Bennett was transported to Westport PD where he was charged with the above crime and held on a court set bond of $50,000.

2023-02-15@2:50pm–#Westport CT– A multi-vehicle crash in the left lane on I-95 northbound between exit 18 and 19.

This news report is made possible by:

On December 21 st , 2022 Westport Police initiated an investigation after a complaint was made
regarding damage caused to landscaping at a property owned by the Westport Housing Authority.
The complainant provided video surveillance of the alleged suspect driving over grass areas of
the property causing significant damage. Through the surveillance footage, the investigating
officer identified the alleged suspect as James Doyle. The officer applied for and was granted a
warrant charging Mr. Doyle with the above crime. On January 13 th , 2023, the investigating
officer witnessed Mr. Doyle driving his vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Mr. Doyle was
arrested and transported to Westport Police Department where he was processed. Mr. Doyle was
released on court set bond of $2500 with a court date of January 23 rd , 2023 at Stamford Superior
Court.

#Westport CT—On October 28 th 2021, Officers responded to the area of Center St on a report of an individual, later identified as Cameron Baker, acting erratically and drinking motor oil. Responding officers located Mr. Baker walking in the middle of Center St and attempted to engage him in conversation. Mr. Baker was actively drinking a liquid, later identified as liquid fuel additive and yelling at officers. Officers began to follow Mr. Baker down Center St when he began to run while continuing to drink this liquid. Officers caught up with Mr. Baker where he immediately began to fight with officers. While fighting with the officers, he punched them in their heads causing one officer to fall to the ground and break his wrist. Throughout the fight, officers repeatedly gave verbal commands to stop fighting and to comply. Mr. Baker referred to officers with derogatory names and made threatening statements concerning officers and their families.

Mr. Baker was eventually subdued and ultimately sent to Norwalk Hospital. Warrants were applied for and granted charging him with the above referenced crimes. Mr. Baker was unable to turn himself in until he did on January 17 th when he was charged and released on a $50,000 court set bond with a court date of January 26 th , 2023.

This press release was made possible by:

#Westport, CT– On Wednesday January 18, 2023, the Westport Police Department working with the
State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Tobacco
Prevention and Enforcement Program (TPEP) conducted unannounced compliance inspections of
establishments that sell tobacco products and/or electronic cigarettes. The inspections were
performed in an effort to determine compliance with state laws concerning the prohibition of the sale
of e-cigarettes and/or tobacco products to youth under the age of 21.

Retailers are required by state law to inspect the photo ID of anyone who appears under the age of
30 before selling a tobacco product or electronic cigarette. Free online training is available to
anyone who would like to learn more at: www.cttobaccotraining.com .

A total of 5 unannounced compliance inspections were conducted. Of this total, 0 (zero),
establishments were found non-compliant with Connecticut General Statutes 53-344 (Sale of
tobacco to a person under 21) or Section 53-344b (Sale of an e-cigarette to a person under 21).
Learn more at https://www.ct.gov/dmhas/tpep
Tobacco retailers are licensed by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). Non-
compliant inspection results are referred to DRS for possible administrative action.
The following retailers were found to be compliant:

1. Shell/A1 Smoke Shop – 322 Post Road East
2. Cumberland Farms – 690 Post Road East
3. Westport Cigar & Vape – 1248 Post Road East
4. Merritt Country Store – 337 Main Street
5. WP Convenience – 1761 Post Road East

This press release was made possible by:

2023-01-14@2:00pm–#Westport CT— #cttraffic– A small brush fire near exit 18 has the right lane closed on I-95 northbound and slowing traffic.

#Westport CT–At 6:12 PM this evening, the Westport Fire Department along with Westport Police, and EMS responded to a multi-vehicle crash in front of 40 Bridge Street. One driver of a vehicle was trapped in their car and required extrication using hydraulic extrication tools. After removal from the vehicle, the patient was transferred by Westport EMS to a local hospital. No other injuries were reported.

#Westport CT-On February 10th , 2022, Westport Police were notified of a YouTube video showing four individuals recording in the parking lot of 397 Post Rd East. Three of the four individuals in the video had allegedly been communicating with the fourth, identified as Paul Sastrum, via on-line chat. The three individuals who were recording the incident alleged that, during the chat, one of them told SASTRUM they were a 14-year-old male. Once SASTRUM was aware that he was chatting with a 14-year-old male, the individuals recording the incident allege he made graphic sexual comments and made it clear he wanted to meet. The recording group allege that SASTRUM agreed to meet in the parking lot in Westport and upon his arrival, they began th#Westport CT-On February 10th , 2022, Westport Police were notified of a YouTube video showing four individuals recording in the parking lot of 397 Post Rd East. Three of the four individuals in the video had allegedly been communicating with the fourth, identified as Paul Sastrum, via on-line chat. The three individuals who were recording the incident alleged that, during the chat, one of them told SASTRUM they were a 14-year-old male. Once SASTRUM was aware that he was chatting with a 14-year-old male, the individuals recording the incident allege he made graphic sexual comments and made it clear he wanted to meet. The recording group allege that SASTRUM agreed to meet in the parking lot in Westport and upon his arrival, they began th#seymoure

recording. At the end of the recording SASTRUM leaves in a vehicle bearing a Connecticut registration plate. This registration plate returned the necessary information to identify the alleged suspect as Paul Sastrum. An arrest warrant was applied for and ultimately granted charging SASTRUM with the above referenced crime. On December 28th , 2022, SASTRUM was charged with the above referenced crimes while at Stamford Superior Court. He was held on a $250,000.00 bond with a court date of December 28th , 2022.