Category: Westport

2022-05-10@12:38am–#Westport CT– #cttraffic— Firefighters quickly extinguish a house fire on Hunting Lane.

Westport Fire Department donated used personal protective equipment such as coats, pants, boots that they can no longer use to Ukraine. On behalf of the Westport Fire Department, Fire Marshal Nathaniel Gibbons organized the project and delivered the fire turnout gear yesterday for a shipment being sent abroad to the Ukrainian firefighters.

Gibbons stated, “Firefighters support one another around the county or the world. The men and women of Ukraine fighting fire under war conditions reached out for our support- so we responded. We support them and their fight for freedom.”

Chief Michael Kronick stated, “Imagine trying to put out a fire without the proper fire equipment. There are raging fires in cities, forests, and fields from the numerous bombing attacks which the firefighters are working around the clock to put out. We know that our equipment is going to save lives and help the firefighters.” Gibbons also wanted to thank Westport resident Mark Yurkiw. Yukiw is fluent in Ukrainian and expedited the communication and logistics necessary to get this gear directly to Ukraine Emergency Services.

The National Fire Protection Association specifies that structural turnout gear shall be retired when the garment is beyond repair and no longer able to pass the NFPA 1851 test. While this donated gear is past its technical expiration date for use here in the States, it is clean, in serviceable condition, and ready to provide protection to our Ukrainian brother and sister firefighters.

#Westport CT–On April 23, 2022, Westport Police officers responded to a construction site on Saugatuck Avenue on a report that a male had fallen from a roof. Upon arrival, it was determined that the victim had not fallen, and that the injury was the result of an assault committed by a coworker. The coworker, identified as Michael Gomes-Liandro, allegedly struck the victim in the arm with a metal pipe. Mr. Gomes-Liandro left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival. He was quickly located at the Saugatuck Train Station and was reportedly positively identified as the person who committed the assault.

Mr. Gomes-Liandro was arrested and charged with Assault in the Second Degree. He wasreleased after posting a $75,000.00 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on May 2, 2022.

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#Westport CT— On January 27, 2022, the Westport Police Department’s Detective Bureau received areport that a Bedford Middle School teacher possibly touched a student inappropriately. The teacher was identified as Arthur Ellis. The complainant stated that she had Mr. Ellis for a class, and it was alleged that the inappropriate touching occurred this past December during class time.

The detective assigned to this case conducted an extensive investigation and based on the results a warrant for Mr. Ellis’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge.

On the afternoon of April 27, 2022, Mr. Ellis turned himself in at the Westport PoliceDepartment. Per the warrant, he was charged with Sexual Assault in the Fourth Degree and Risk of Injury to a Child. Mr. Ellis was released after posting a $100,000.00 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on May 6, 2022.

2022-04-21@11:45am– Firefighters were called to 1040 Post Road West for a structure fire, the Townhouse for Dogs and Cats. The fire appeared to be on the 2nd floor porch, 2nd floor and attic area. It took firefighters about an hour to get the bulk of the fire knocked down. I did see crates of animals being taken out of the building by firefighters. It is not known if any animals were injured. A man, woman and child were escorted to an ambulance possibly to be keep them warm. There did not appear to be any injuries.

#Westport CT– On April 19, 2022, at approximately 4:27 am, the Westport Fire Department was requested to respond to a report of a house fire. The original call was for a fire alarm. Itwas quickly followed up with a call from the occupant. The caller reported smoke in the house. Westport Fire responded with four engines, a rescue truck, and a command vehicle. Responding units were not coming from their normal locations due to all units being assigned to storm-related calls at the time. Surrounding towns were requested to provide coverage as well as respond to the scene to augment staffing. On arrival, a heavy smoke condition was found on the first and second floors. The occupants were able to leave the building before firefighters arrived. Two canines were removed by firefighters and did not appear to be injured. Firefighters were able to locate the fire traveling in the wall and ceiling in the kitchen. Firefighters had to open the ceiling spaces up and were able to quickly deploy a hose line to extinguish all visible fire. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported at the time of this report. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Westport Fire Marshal’s Office.

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#Westport CT–On August 2, 2021, the Westport Police Detective Bureau began to investigate a reported sexual assault which took place at a Westport residence. The complainant stated that on August 1, 2021, he was visiting with a friend who was identified as Cameron Kassees. The complainant alleged that during this visit he was sexually assaulted by Mr. Kassees.

An extensive investigation was conducted which included multiple interviews and the execution of search warrants. Based upon the results of the investigation, a warrant for Mr. Kassees’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge.

On the evening of January 26, 2022, Mr. Kassees turned himself in at the Westport Police Department. Per the warrant, he was charged with Sexual Assault in the Second Degree. Mr. Kassees was released after posting a $2,500.00 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on February 4, 2022.

#Westport, CT– At Westport Police / EMS Headquarters, on October 13, 2021, Mr. Larry Kleinman was
presented with The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his volunteer
service at Westport Emergency Medical Service.
The award, presented by the Office of the President of the United States and AmeriCorps
(formerly known as the Corporation for National and Community Service), recognizes a lifelong
commitment to building a stronger nation through community service.

“Larry has demonstrated his skills, abilities and compassion in thousands of 911 medical
emergency calls. The community and our organization are extremely fortunate to have an
exceptional and dedicated individual like Larry Kleinman available and ready to respond to
emergencies and provide community education. His logged in volunteer hours vastly exceed the
minimum 4,000 hours required for the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award” said Westport
Volunteer Emergency Medical Service President Mike Burns.
In addition to Mr. Kleinman, thirty-two EMS volunteers are to be awarded the 2020 President’s
Volunteer Service Award (Gold, Silver, Bronze).

WVEMS members span a variety of backgrounds and ages. From 15 years old to 75, and older,
they are real estate brokers, students, lawyers, stay at home parents, programmers, business
owners, financial advisors, retirees, teachers, nurses, etc. in their “other life.”
WVEMS volunteers, along with six town employees, staff Westport EMS ambulances to respond
to approximately 2,400 911 emergency medical calls each year. They provide pre-hospital
emergency medical care, logging in excess of 18,000 volunteer hours each year. Other aspects
of WVEMS’s essential mission in the community are: purchasing ambulances and lifesaving
equipment such as heart monitors; public education by providing CPR and Stop the Bleed classes as well as Emergency Medical Technician and Emergency Medical Responder courses; running a youth corps for high school age volunteers.

For more information on WVEMS, its classes and programs, and to donate online for its annual
fundraising campaign, please visit www.westportems.org

(Westport, CT) At approximately 11:14am on the morning of September 12, 2021, the Westport
Police Department’s emergency dispatch center was contacted by a couple who were the
victims of an alleged robbery attempt that occurred on the Ruth Cohen Steinkraus Post Road
Bridge. At nearly the same time the caller’s husband flagged down a patrol officer who was
driving by.
It was reported that a male party had approached the couple quickly from behind. The
suspect then began walking in step with the male victim at which time he told the couple to
bring him to their car. He repeated the demand as he allegedly brandished a knife and
threatening the female. The female then darted across the Post Road evading cars in order to
escape. Her husband followed at which time the suspect then fled the area walking eastbound
towards Jesup Road. Fortunately, neither of the victims were injured.
The victims were able to provide a detailed description of the suspect which was relayed to
all of the responding officers. Patrol units began to saturate the area from all directions in an
effort to locate the suspect. While officers were searching the area a member of the Westport
Fire Department advised that he had seen a suspect fitting the descriptors in the area of 302 Post
Road East. Officers were on scene within moments and located an individual who fit the
description provided by the victims. The suspect was then identified as James S Cummings, age
41, of Bridgeport, CT. Cummings matched all of the physical descriptors provided and was then
detained by officers where a knife was then located on his person. The victims purportedly
identified Cummings as the individual who accosted them on the bridge.
Cummings was placed under arrest and charged with Attempt to Commit Robbery in the 1 st
Degree, Attempt at Larceny in the 3 rd Degree, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, and Threatening
in the 2 nd Degree. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.
In response to the events that unfolded today Police Chief Foti Koskinas stated “I am
extremely proud of all the officers who assisted with this incident. The high level of skill and
teamwork they exhibited led to the quick apprehension of the suspect. Additionally, I would
like to extend my gratitude to the Westport Fire Department for their assistance.”

Cummings had been out on bond at the time of this incident stemming from an arrest that
occurred on September 5, 2021, in which he was charged with Sexual Assault in the 4 th Degree
(2 Counts), Threatening in the 2 nd Degree, Attempt to Commit Assault in the 3 rd Degree, and
Reckless Endangerment in the 2 nd Degree.

This press release was made possible by:

POLICE UPDATE:

WESTPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING UNTIMELY

DEATHS

(Update 6/18/21) The adult female who was found deceased in the home at 1 Lyndale Park has
been positively identified as forty-six-year-old Tracy Do. The deceased juvenile also resided at
the above address and is Ms. Do’s daughter.

On June 18, 2021, the two deceased individuals were brought to the State Medical Examiner’s
office in Farmington to be autopsied. The Medical Examiner determined that the seven-year-
old had drowned and ruled her death a homicide. The Medical Examiner ruled Ms. Do’s death
a suicide. The Westport Police Detective Bureau along with the State Police Western District
Major Crimes Unit continue to investigate the facts and circumstances related to these two
deaths.

Chief Koskinas stated that “this is a horrible tragedy, and the police department is keeping the
family as well as the community that was so deeply affected by this in our thoughts and
prayers.”
At this time, we are not releasing any further information related to this case.

#Westport, CT At approximately 4:00 p.m. on this date the Westport Police Department along
with Westport Emergency Medical Services and the Westport Fire Department responded to a
home in Westport on a report of an unresponsive female. Upon arrival, an adult female was
located inside the home, and it was determined that she was deceased. After finding the female,
the officers went through the interior of the residence to determine if anyone else was inside. It
was at that time that officers located a seven-year-old child who was also deceased.

The Westport Police is in the beginning stages of this investigation and is being assisted by the
State Police Major Crimes Unit. This appears to be an isolated incident and we do not believe that there is any active threat to the community.