3:22pm–#Westport CT– First responders on the way to Sherwood Island State Park for a 7-year-old boy who was in the water too long. He lost conscious according to radio reports and is not showing signs of hypothermia.
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The Westport Fire Department welcomes home Assistant Chief Michael Kronick after his recent deployment with the White Mountain National Forest Fire Crew #1. For the past 18 days, Assistant Chief Michael Kronick was one of 6 members of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew, which is part of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection that was detailed to the White Mountain National Forest Wildfire 20-person fire crew for the two week firefighting assignment. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection maintains a roster of staff and personnel from local fire departments who are certified to fight wildfires, which in turn allows Connecticut to participate in a reciprocal aid program operated by the U.S. Forest Service. The crew went to Craigmont Idaho, Craig Mountain Complex and Philipsburg, Montana on the Beaverhead and Deerlodge National Forest to the Whetstone Ridge and Meyers Fires where they worked to help contain the wildfires working with crews from all over the United States. A.C. Kronick most recently deployed in 2016 with Chief Yost to assist in Idaho and Wyoming. A.C. Kronick has also been deployed several times before including fires in California and Quebec.
Current information about these wildfires is available at:
Link to Craig Mountain Complex incident information https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5376/
Link to Meyers Fire incident information https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5363/
(Press Release)
At approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 19, 2017 the Westport Police were dispatched to the Bank of America located at 1815 Post Road East on a report of a male who had attempted to cash a fraudulent check. Prior to police arrival, the suspect had left the bank but we were advised that the suspect was last seen heading westbound on Post Road East driving a Volvo with New York plates. The car was located at Post Road East and Morningside Drive, and the operator was detained while this matter was being investigated further. The bank teller who reported the incident stated that at approx. 11:45 that morning the suspect, later identified as Steven Digsby, entered the bank and attempted to cash a check made out to the victim. In addition to the check, Mr. Digsby presented a PA driver’s license with his picture on it but the name on the license was the victim’s name. While processing the transaction, the teller pulled up the victim’s account profile and noticed that the date of birth on the profile was different than the one on the license. Further, there was a fraud alert on the victim’s account. As a result, the teller refused to process the transaction and Mr. Digsby left. A short time later, a customer turned in a wallet that was found inside the bank. The teller looked inside the wallet and located a NY driver’s license. The name on the license was Steven Digsby and the picture on the license matched the identity of the male who had just attempted to cash the fraudulent check. Realizing that he had left his wallet at the bank, Mr. Digsby returned about one hour later and asked if his wallet had been located. The teller claimed that the wallet had not been found.
At the same time, another bank employee called the police. When police arrived, the wallet was turned over to the investigating officer and an illegally manufactured credit card in the name of the victim was found inside. It was determined that Mr. Digsby assumed the identity of a legitimate Bank of America account holder in order to cash the fraudulent check. Based upon the investigation, Mr. Digsby was placed under arrest and charged with Identity Theft in the 3 rd Degree, Criminal Impersonation, Criminal Attempt at Larceny in the 4 th Degree, Credit Card Theft, and Unlawful Reproduction of a Credit Card. He was given a court date of July 28, 2017 and released from custody on a $10,000 bond.
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#Westport, CT–The Westport Police Department is advising residents of recent burglaries which occurred on Bonnie Brook Road during the overnight hours of 07/06/17 (last night). In one case, a homeowner awoke to the sound of the front door screen window being cut. The homeowner made noise inside the home and the suspect ran off in an unknown direction. In the second case, Westport Officers responded to a Bonnie Brook Road address at approximately 6:45am and spoke to the homeowners who discovered that someone had entered their home overnight while they were sleeping. The suspect stole approximately $4,000.00 in electronics and cash. Entry into the home was made through an unlocked door.
We request all Westport residents to remain alert to their surroundings and call the Westport Police should anything seem out of place or suspicious. Please lock all doors and leave exterior lights on. We are asking anyone who may have information pertaining to these recent incidents to contact the Westport Police Department Detective Bureau at (203)341-6080.
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11:30am–#Westport, CT On Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at approximately 11:30 am officers responded to the intersection of Post Road East and Westfair Drive on a report of a serious motor vehicle accident with injuries. Investigation of this incident will necessitate an extended closure of the roadway. At the time of this writing, Post Road East is completely closed to traffic between the intersections of Maple Avenue and Bulkley Avenue. Traffic delays on Post Road East and the surrounding areas should be expected as a result of this closure. This traffic pattern is subject to change as the investigation continues, however, motorists should use Long Lots Road and/or Greens Farms Road as alternate routes around the accident scene.
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Westport, Conn. — Elaine Daignault, Director of the Department of Human Services announces the return of the American Job Center Southwest’s Career Coach at Westport Town Hall. On Thursday, July 13 the Coach will offer a beginner’s class in recently upgraded Word 2013 from 10 a.m. – noon, followed by an intermediate class in Word 2013 from 1 – 3 p.m. Contact the Westport Department of Human Services for specific course description information.
The Career Coach is a “training center” tour bus equipped with ten wireless computer labs offering free computer classes to residents in the greater Norwalk area. The mobile unit operates on a monthly schedule of visits to various community locations and is accessible to people with disabilities.
Area residents interested in registering should contact the Westport Department of Human Services at 203-341-1050 or via e-mail at humansrv@westportct.gov. For more information, including the current Career Coach schedule, check the website for American Job Center Southwest at http://www.ajcswct.com
Ms. Daignault stated, “I hope that by offering the American Job Center Southwest’s Career Coach in the Westport area, many residents who wish to improve their computer skills will find it convenient and useful in pursuing their personal goals.”
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(Westport, CT) On Tuesday, June 20 th at approximately 4:05 PM, the Westport Police Department received a complaint of a suspicious person from a resident on Weather Vane Hill. The complainant reported that a black male was on their property looking in the windows and manipulating the front door handle. The resident quickly determined that the suspect did not belong at the residence and called Police. First arriving Officer located the suspect, sitting in the front yard of the residence. While speaking with male on scene, a vehicle pulled up and it was determined he was there to pick up the suspicious person now speaking with the Officer.
An investigation into their purpose on the property was initiated. Both parties claimed that they were at the residence to pick up a package delivered by UPS in error. They claimed that they lived in Bridgeport and the package was mistakenly delivered to the address in Westport. Through the investigation, we found that resident was a victim of identity theft, when unknown person(s) opened fraudulent cellphone accounts in his name. The two suspects at the residence were attempting to retrieve the cellphones that were fraudulently purchased. They attempted to pick up the package from the residence not knowing that the residence was occupied and the occupants had already retrieved the package. This investigation is continuing.
The following parties were arrested in this case:
David Masala (DOB: 06/27/98) of 253 Beechwood Ave Bridgeport, CT
Emmanuel Modey (DOB: 06/08/95) of 136 Whittier St Bridgeport, CT
They were each charged with ID Theft 3 rd Degree, Larceny 3 rd Degree, Conspiracy to Commit ID Theft 3 rd Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 3 rd Degree. Both parties are being held on $5000 bond with a court date of 06/29/17 at Norwalk Superior Court.
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#Westport The Westport Firefighters Charitable Foundation (WUFCF) presented a check to the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation “Children’s Burn Camp”. Kathleen Gerrity, Executive Director of the CT Burns Care Foundation accepted the $1700 donation from Theodore Crawford, President of WUFCF. The donation was made possible from the Westport Firefighters Annual Golf Tournament held in May of this year. The annual golf tournament is one of WUFCF’s main fund raisers each year, the proceeds of which are distributed amongst various charities in the local area. This year almost 100 golfers participated in the tournament which was held at The Links at Longshore.
Photo from left to right: Deputy Chief Robert Kepchar; Firefighter Theodore Crawford, President WUFCF; Kathleen Gerrity, Executive Director CT Burns Care Foundation “Childrens Burn Camp; Lieutenant Brendan McHugh.
On 2/05/17 at approximately 4:00pm, Westport Officers were dispatched to Walgreens, 880 Post Road East, in regards to a shoplifting. Officers spoke with the store manager who stated that a male loaded up a Walgreens carry basket with containers of baby formula, then walked past the registers and out of the store without paying. The suspect then exited the parking lot in a gray Mini Cooper. The shoplifter was the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle. The total amount of loss from the shoplifting is $573.80.
In March of 2017, Westport Detectives learned of an arrest made by the Fairfield Police Department on February 7 th , 2017 where a white male placed six Red Bull 4 packs in a CVS hand basket and exited the store without paying. The male fled the area driving a gray Mini Cooper where the registration was captured. The vehicle was registered to a Troy S. Amarante of Wallingford CT. Fairfield Detectives supplied Westport Detectives with a photograph of Amarante. Amarante was positively identified as the suspect from the Westport Walgreens larceny. A warrant was submitted to Norwalk Court by Detective George Taylor for the arrest of Troy Amarante. On June 13, 2017, Westport Officers responded to the Branford Police Department to pick up Amarante who they had in their custody. He was transported to the Westport Police Department and processed for the Larceny 6 th degree charge. Amarante was held on a $25,000 surety bond, and has a court date at Norwalk Superior Court on June 21, 2017.
Fairfield Fire Department UPDATE:
FAIRFIELD, CT, 6/17/2017: On Friday June 16, 2017 at approximately 10:14 PM, the Fairfield Fire Department received a report of motor vehicle accident with injuries involving a commercial truck and several vehicles on I95 South between exit 19 and Exit 18. Additional information received during response indicated at least one person was trapped under a vehicle.
When fire units arrived scene, they reported a multi vehicle accident with one occupant trapped under a AAA tow truck and another requiring extrication from a commercial truck. Fire crews from Fairfield and Westport immediately secured the scene and began the process of gaining access to and removing the two trapped occupants from in and under the vehicles. The condition of the individuals involved is unknown at this time.
Initial reports indicate the tow truck may have been assisting a motorist on the side of the highway at the time of the accident. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Connecticut State Police. Assistant Chief Roger Caisse, the incident commander stated, The Fairfield Fire Department wants to remind residents to adhere to the Move Over Law, which states “any operator of a motor vehicle on a highway when approaching one or more stationary emergency vehicles located on the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane of such highway shall
(1) immediately reduce speed to a reasonable level below the posted speed limit, and
(2) if traveling in the lane adjacent to the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane containing such emergency vehicle, move such motor vehicle over one lane, unless such movement would be unreasonable or unsafe.”
A total of 4 Fairfield fire units and 3 Westport fire units responded to this incident. The last fire unit cleared the scene
UPDATE: Witnesses say two AAA trucks stopped on the side of the highway to help a broken down car then allegedly struck by a box truck. This occurred on I-95 southbound near exit 19 around 10:14pm. No word on the injuries.
10:14pm–#cttraffic– I-95 southbound near exit 19 a multi car accident with a car pinned under a tractor trailer. Please pray for a positive outcome. #Fairfield #Westport
