Category: Westport

#Westport Ct–At approximately 9:15 PM on December 29 th , Officer David Scinto observed a vehicle attempt to enter the Merritt Parkway exit 41 northbound off-ramp traveling southbound. Officer Scinto activated the emergency lights of his police vehicle and quickly followed the vehicle in the wrong direction, cutting in front of it on the ramp to prevent it from entering the highway in the wrong direction. He was able to stop the vehicle and block the ramp, preventing exiting vehicles from striking the suspect vehicle head-on. Officer Scinto directed the suspect vehicle into the nearby commuter lot where he was able to identify the driver as Gina Heckel, 49, of Fairfield, CT.  While speaking with Heckel, Officer Scinto detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on her breath. Heckel was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tests, which she failed, and was then taken into custody. While retrieving Heckel’s cell phone and purse from her vehicle, Officer Scinto observed a half-empty bottle of vodka inside the car and loose pills inside her purse. He later
learned they were prescription pills, which were not prescribed to Heckel. At headquarters, Heckel was given a breath test, which found her to be over the legal limit.

Heckel was charged with violation of motor vehicle statutes 14-227a Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs and 14-239 Driving the Wrong Way on a Highway. She was additionally charged with 21a-279(a) Possession of Narcotics and 21a-257 Narcotic Possession Only in Original Container. Heckel was released after posting $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Court on 01/08/2018. Officer Scinto’s quick thinking and action prevented what could have been a tragic incident on the highway, not only for the party involved but also for other innocent travelers.

(Westport Police Press Release)

#Westport CT– Last week Westport firefighters conducted training on some new rescue equipment, at Fire Headquarters. New stabilization and lifting struts were put through their paces in different scenarios as firefighters became familiar with the use and application of the new equipment. Mannequins were used to simulate entrapment of a person under a vehicle. As part of the training, Westport EMS personnel were invited to attend and become part of the realistic scenarios being performed. EMS personnel were able to observe the firefighters performing the extractions, establish their own plans for treatment of the patients based upon expected traumatic injuries and were then able to perform simulated treatment on the patients after removal.
This coordinated and collaborative training between Fire and EMS personnel builds upon the familiarity and trust between the two public safety agencies, each team understanding and respecting each other’s role, in what is often a complex but time-critical event.

#Westport CT– On Tuesday December 26, 2017 at approximately 5:00am, Westport Police dispatch received a call from a citizen in the Saugatuck area of town. The caller reported that he observed several individuals exit a white vehicle, enter his yard and then attempt to open the car doors on his vehicles. Patrol units began responding to the area at which time a second 911 call was received by dispatch from a separate citizen residing in the same general area. He also observed several individuals exit what he described as a white Audi sport utility vehicle and enter his yard. The caller confronted the suspects who reportedly got back into their vehicle and fled the immediate area. Officer Michael Tomanelli was one of the first responding units to arrive in the vicinity of the calls, at which time he observed the suspect travel around a curve on Harbor Road at a high rate of speed and cross over the double yellow line into his path of travel.

Officer Tomanelli attempted an evasive maneuver, however the suspects drove straight at his patrol vehicle in an apparent intentional act, thereby causing extensive disabling damage to both vehicles and injuring Officer Tomanelli. He was transported to the hospital for evaluation. At that time, it was believed that at least four suspects exited the vehicle and fled in different directions from the accident scene. Mutual aid units including K9 units were contacted and responded from the Connecticut State Police, Fairfield Police Department, Greenwich Police Department, and Norwalk Police Department. The Westport Police Department’s Marine Unit also responded to the scene to search and monitor the shoreline and adjacent waterways. The Westport Police Department’s drone was deployed to survey the area from overheard and
thermal imaging devices were also utilized by officers on the ground. A perimeter was quickly set around the affected area and canine tracks directly led to the apprehension of three suspects. A fourth and fifth suspect were also later apprehended due to a coordinated effort by the units on scene.

The suspects’ vehicle was found to have been reported stolen out of Weston, Connecticut on December 23, 2017. It was also confirmed that the suspects had been attempting to enter vehicles in the area where the calls originated from. At this time those incidents are still under further investigation.

8:15pm–#Westport CT– Firefighters were busy!  First a call for kitchen cabinets on fire on Redcoat Road which was out on the firefighter’s arrival.  The second call was for a possible fire on Blind Brook Road South which turned out to be a malfunctioning furnace that had delayed ignition.

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12:02pm–#Westport CT– #cttraffic– A crash with possible injuries on the Merritt Parkway southbound near exit 40.  Avoid the area if you can.

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