Category: Westport

#Westport CT–On 02/07/2018 at approximately midnight, a motor vehicle stop was conducted on Jesup Road in front of the Gillespie Center. The vehicle did not have an illuminated rear marker plate and was found to have an expired registration. The operator was also unable to provide proof of valid insurance. The operator advised the officer she worked at the Gillespie Center and identified herself as the victim. She was issued a misdemeanor summons for those charges in that name.

 

The victim was later made aware of the stop and summons and contacted the Westport Police Department on 06/16/2018. The victim claimed she was not in Westport on the night of the incident and advised that Tonya Brown had used her personal information at the time of her arrest in Westport. Investigators learned Tonya Brown was employed by the Gillespie Center on the date of the incident and was due to work at midnight. Brown was reportedly late to work that evening and the stop was witnessed by a third party inside the building. Investigators also learned the vehicle used in February belonged to a friend of Brown and at the time of the motor vehicle stop, Brown’s driver’s license was suspended. An arrest warrant application was submitted for Brown and later approved.

 

On 08/17/2018, Brown turned herself in at police headquarters on the active arrest warrant. She was charged with 53a-130 Criminal Impersonation, 53a-167a Interfering with an Officer: Non-Assaultive, 14-215 Illegal Operation of Motor Vehicle Under Suspension, 14- 213b Insurance Coverage Fails Minimum Requirements, 14-12(a)* Operate/Tow Unregistered Motor Vehicle and 14-96c Improper Rear/Marker Lamps.

 

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Westport Fire Department UPDATE:

At 9:34am, the Westport Fire Department at the request of the Westport Police Department, responded to a private residence in the Colyetown Fire District to assist in the investigation of a reported suspicious package. Seven firefighters responded, three of which are Hazardous Materials Response Technicians. These firefighters are trained in responding to incidents that may involve hazardous materials. They were able to properly identify the material in question as non-hazardous.

Suspicious packages can come in all shapes and sizes. In general terms, a suspicious package is any bag, box, backpack, package or other item left unattended or that otherwise seems “out of place”. The Westport Fire Department would like to remind our residents that if you see or suspect that you have received a suspicious package, immediately call 911 to report it.

How to Recognize Suspicious Packages and Mail:

• Misspelled words.
• Arrives unexpectedly.
• Restrictive markings such as “Personal” or “Confidential” or “do not x-ray”.
• Postmark does not match return address.
• Badly typed or written.
• Excessive postage or no return address.
• Wrong title or name in address.
• Excessive tape or string; lopsided, rigid or bulky package
• Protruding wires.
• Strange odor.
• Crystals or powder-like residue.
• Oily stains, discolorations or crystallization on wrapping.
• Ticking sounds.

Procedures for Handling Suspicious Packages and Mail:

• Stay calm.
• Do not open the letter or package (or open any further), do not shake it, do not show it to others, or empty its contents.
• Leave the letter or package where it is or gently place it on the nearest flat surface.
• Alert others nearby to relocate to an area away from the site of the suspicious item.
• Take essential belongings, like cell phones, keys, purse, etc. with you in case return to your office is delayed.
• Immediately call 911 to report the suspicious package.
• Leave and close the door to the space containing the suspicious letter or package, keep others away.

 

9:40am–#Westport CT– First responders at 7 Bruce Lane for a suspicious white powder.

 

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#Westport CT – First Selectman Jim Marpe announced today that the Westport Police Department, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, is launching a new Voluntary Registry for People with Disabilities.

Mr. Marpe noted that the confidential and voluntary registry service will assist officers and other emergency services personnel in the event of an incident involving vulnerable citizens with disabilities.  The goal is to enhance first responders’ proficiency in addressing the needs of residents whose disability may make them susceptible to miscommunications, misinterpretations of behaviors and many other avoidable scenarios.

Police Chief Foti Koskinas stated, “Under the program, residents can voluntarily enroll themselves (or family members) in a confidential database informing emergency workers of special circumstances or needs in the event of an emergency or a routine call to the home.”

Human Services Director, Elaine Daignault noted that the “Commission on People with Disabilities has been instrumental in spearheading this project consistent with their mission of ensuring that Westport is a town where people with disabilities have the opportunity and support to enjoy full and equal access to lives of independence, productivity, inclusion and self-determination.”

Jim Ross, the Chair of the Commission on People with Disabilities, which he helped establish in 2017, added, “This initiative was one of the first identified by the Commission and we are gratified to be a part of such an amazing collaboration between Town departments and the community.  It shows that Westport is a community that is invested in strengthening services and opportunities for people with disabilities. The Voluntary Registry is an important step in our collective efforts to enhance inclusivity and equality in town.”

The Voluntary Registry may also serve as an Equity Action objective of the Town’s Sustainable Connecticut application, a voluntary certification program to recognize thriving and resilient Connecticut municipalities.  Westport’s Green Task Force is working with town officials to identify initiatives that meet the Sustainable CT criteria for consideration.  In this case, the Registry may meet the goal to build and strengthen municipal processes to be more inclusive, cohesive, and representative of all community members, now and in the future.  These system-wide, structural changes are an important step in creating open and equitable communities, according to the Sustainable CT guidelines.

Residents who may benefit from the registry are encouraged to register by downloading the form from this link:https://www.westportct.gov/index.aspx?recordid=346&page=33, stop in to the Town of Westport’s Human Services Department in Room 200 at Town Hall, or request that an application be mailed to them.  One on one assistance in completing the forms is also available by appointment by calling 203-341-1050 or you may make further inquiries via email at Humansrv@westportct.gov.

 

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#Westport, CT – The Town of Westport Parks and Recreation Department announced today that lifeguards will be on duty at Burying Hill Beach from 10:00am to 6:00pm through Sunday, August 26. Effective Monday, August 27 through Friday, August 31, no lifeguards will be on duty at Burying Hill Beach.

Lifeguards will be on duty at Burying Hill Beach from 10:00am to 6:00pm from Saturday, September 1 through Monday, September 3 (Labor Day).

Compo Beach lifeguards will be on their regular schedule through September 3, 2018.

Beach emblems are required through September 30, 2018.

 

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#Westport, CT – From July 16 th through August 16 th , the Westport Domestic Violence Task Force (WDVTF) collected supplies for the two Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) safe houses that serve residents in our area. The WDVTF sought donations of new leggings and t- shirts, bed linens, backpacks and school supplies, and gently used luggage. Collection bins were located in the lobbies of the Westport Police, Fire and Human Services Departments as well as the Westport Weston YMCA and Unitarian Church.

 

“The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze us. We are extremely grateful for every donation,” said Task Force Co-Chair Lieutenant Jillian Cabana. Through the drive, the WDVTF was able to collect more than 15 pieces of luggage, numerous sheet sets, leggings, shirts and a dozen backpacks, complete with the school supplies to fill them.

 

The Westport Domestic Violence Task Force would like to thank everyone who donated as well as the locations that sponsored and promoted our collection bins. Information on how to contribute additional monetary donations to support the Domestic Violence Crisis Center’s services can be found on the DVCC website, http://www.dvccct.org/donate.html. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, help can be reached via the 24 hour hotline, 1-888-774-2900 and additional information can be found on the DVCC website, www.dvccct.org

 

For more information on Westport Domestic Violence Task Force initiatives, please check out our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Westport-Domestic-Violence-Task-Force- 1550811978272839/.

(Press release)

 

#Westport CT–On 08/07/2018 at approximately 4:00pm, officers were dispatched to People’s Bank on a report of a male attempting to make a fraudulent transaction. Upon arrival, the suspect was located at the counter attempting to cash a forged check using fraudulent identification. The teller observed the check provided had an incorrect routing number. When asked for additional identification, the suspect produced a forged U.S. passport and a fraudulent Discover card. The name on each item belonged to an actual bank customer however, the suspect was unable to verify the personal information of the account holder. The suspect, later identified as Sammie Spells of Bronx, NY, was arrested and transported to headquarters. Spells was charged with 53a-129d Identity Theft 3rd, 53a-139 Forgery 2 nd , 53a-140 Forgery 3rd, 53a-128c Credit Card Theft and 53a-49 Criminal Attempt at Larceny 3 rd . Spells was held in lieu of $10,000 and was transported to Norwalk court for arraignment.

 

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#Westport CT–On 08/06/2018, the victim came to police headquarters to report a violation of a protective order. Earlier in the day, the victim received a Facebook “friend request” from Karen Backus, 55, of Trumbull, CT. An active Order of Protection was in effect at the time of the request, which prohibited Backus from contacting the victim in any manner. An arrest warrant application for Backus was submitted and later approved. On 08/07/2018, Backus turned herself in at police headquarters on the active warrant. She was charged with 53a-223 Criminal Violation of Protective Order; Non-Threatening. Backus was released after posting $20,000 court set bond.

 

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#Westport CT–On 08/03/2018 at approximately 11:45pm, officers were dispatched to a residence on a report of a disturbance. Officers learned the suspect, who is not allowed inside the residence, arrived and demanded $100 payment from the elderly victim for outdoor electrical work. The victim refused and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the suspect, Todd Seligson, removed the wallet from the victim’s rear pocket by force and took $1,400 from it before leaving the residence. Officers located Seligson at his residence. He was taken into custody and charged with 53a-136 Robbery 3 rd , 53a-125 Larceny 4 th , 53a-182 Disorderly Conduct and 53a-107 Criminal Trespass. He was unable to post $25,000 bond and was transported to Norwalk Superior Court for arraignment on 08/06/2018.

 

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#Westport CT–On 07/10/2018, investigators responded to Honda of Westport on a report of a larceny. The business reported two separate larcenies of cash. On 06/28/2018, a customer paid $6,000 as a deposit towards the purchase of a vehicle. On 07/09/2018, another customer paid a cash deposit of $9,900 towards the purchase of a new vehicle. Investigators learned employee Ivo Ivanov handled the cash during both transactions, but the money was never received by management. An arrest warrant application was submitted for Ivanov and later approved. On 08/03/2018, Ivanov turned himself in at police headquarters on the active arrest warrant. He was charged with 2 counts of Larceny 3 rd and released.

 

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