Westport, CT – On March 3, 2019, Westport Police began an investigation following the arrest of Raquan Hicks in Fairfield, CT. Hicks, along with two others, was allegedly involved in passing counterfeit $100 bills and purchasing merchandise illegally in Westport. Using surveillance footage and law enforcement information sharing, Westport Police obtained an arrest warrant.
On June 5, 2025, Westport Detectives traveled to Riker’s Island and took Hicks, 29, of East Orange, NJ, into custody on the outstanding warrant. He was transported to Westport Police headquarters and charged with Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 6th and Conspiracy to Commit Forgery 1st. During booking, officers discovered Hicks also had an extraditable warrant from Pittsfield, MA, for similar charges, and a separate active rearrest warrant. He was additionally charged with being a Fugitive From Justice and Failure to Appear 1st.
Hicks was held on multiple bonds totaling $130,000 and transported to Stamford Superior Court for arraignment on June 6, 2025.
BRIDGEPORT – The Barnum Festival continued its 2025 celebration with one of its signature events, Barnum Sails the Sound, bringing together festival supporters, dignitaries, and guests for an evening cruise aboard the PT Barnum, operated by The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company.
This year’s Ringmaster, Greggory Gnandt, led the festivities, accompanied by members of the Barnum Festival Royal Family. Guests enjoyed scenic views of Long Island Sound while celebrating the festival’s enduring tradition of honoring the legacy of P.T. Barnum, Bridgeport’s most famous showman.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by the band Shameless, whose high-energy performance kept guests dancing throughout the night as the vessel cruised across the Sound. The combination of live music, picturesque views, and lively company made for a memorable evening that continues to highlight the Barnum Festival’s unique charm.
Fred Hall, vice president and general manager of The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, was also recognized during the evening. Hall, who served as the 67th Ringmaster of the Barnum Festival, played host as the vessel named after Barnum himself provided the perfect setting for this nautical celebration.
The Barnum Sails the Sound cruise remains a beloved part of the multi-week Barnum Festival, bringing together the community in the spirit of fun, fellowship, and Bridgeport pride.
First responders were called to Seaside Park near the bath houses at West Beach for a water rescue. CPR was performed and the man was alert, moving and talking with first responders when he was loaded into the ambulance.
STRATFORD – The Stratford Department of Recreation is excited to announce that the 2025 Summer Sunset Concert Series will kick-off on Tuesday, June 17th. The concerts are performed at the Paradise Green Gazebo on Tuesdays through August 26th. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held the following Thursday. All concerts begin at 7:00pm. Paradise Pizza is the proud sponsor of this Celebrate Stratford Series. Those attending the Summer Concerts Series are welcome to park in the back of the Stratford Baptist Church at 131 Huntington Rd. The church asks that attendees keep off the grass at the church. We thank the Stratford Baptist Church for providing this accommodation. For more information about the Summer Concert Series and more Celebrate Stratford events, please visit: https://www.townofstratford.com/page/celebrate-stratford
The Stratford Library and Square One Theatre Company have announced the schedule for the Readers Theatre Summer Showcase 2025. The annual series of live, staged readings of new and established plays will begin on Wednesday, June 18 and continue on seven evenings through July 30. All performances are free and open to the public. The festival opens June 18 with Job, a tense contemporary drama by Max Wolf Friedlich, starring Lynnette Victoria and Pat Leo. Other productions include The White Chip (June 26), Fatherland (July 3), Lady Jigsaw (July 10), Conversations with Mother (July 16), Left on Tenth (July 24), and Eureka Day (July 30). All performances will take place in the Stratford Library’s air-conditioned Lovell Room at 7:00 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm for first-come, first-served general seating. Reservations are not accepted. The acting company features Lucy Babbitt, Michelle Duncan, Lillian Garcia, Jennifer Ju, Al Kulcsar, Mark Lambert, Mary Ellen Maloney, Céline Montaudy, Bruce Murray, Peggy Nelson, CJ Nolan, Janet Rathert, Tyler Small, J. Kevin Smith, Priscilla Squiers, Kiel Stango, Danielle Sultini, David Victor, Mitchell Weinbaum, and Mariah Young. Square One Theatre Artistic Director Tom Holehan directs the readings. All plays are recommended for adult audiences. For further information, call the Stratford Library Public Relations and Programming Office at 203.385.4162 or visit www.stratfordlibrary.org.
Stratford, CT — Stratford EMS, in partnership with Bridgeport Hospital, is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking prehospital blood transfusion program — the first of its kind in the region. This innovative initiative, made possible under the leadership of Mayor Laura Hoydick and EMS Director Michael Loiz, brings hospital-level care directly to the streets of Stratford. The program equips Stratford EMS paramedics with the training and tools needed to administer blood transfusions before patients arrive at the hospital — a critical advancement proven to save lives in cases of severe trauma, internal bleeding, and medical emergencies. “With over 40% of Stratford residents over the age of 55, this program provides an essential safety net for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Director Loiz. “Every second counts in a medical emergency. Now, we can start lifesaving treatment right at the scene.” Mayor Laura R. Hoydick commented, “This first-in-the-region program reflects Stratford’s commitment to innovation and public safety. I’m proud of our EMS team, led by Director Michael Loiz, and grateful for the partnership with Bridgeport Hospital to bring advanced, life-saving care directly to our residents when they need it most.” “I am grateful to our EMS partners in the field, for their ongoing commitment to providing patients in our community with access to the highest quality, evidence-driven prehospital care. Access to early intervention can be the difference between life and death. This program relies on having truly collaborative relationships between the hospital and our regional EMS agencies, and I am thankful to everyone who has invested their time and expertise to ensure its successful rollout. I have no doubt that this program will save lives” said Leigh Goodman, Regional EMS Manager for Bridgeport Hospital. This bold new step reflects Stratford’s commitment to cutting-edge emergency care and ensures faster, better outcomes for residents in their most critical moments.
Fairfield, CT — On Friday, May 2, 2025, at approximately 10:55 p.m., Fairfield Police responded to a large group of vehicles operating recklessly in the parking lot of Stop & Shop at 760 Villa Avenue. The scene resembled a street takeover, with drivers performing dangerous stunts such as donuts, burnouts, and fishtails, effectively taking over the private lot and creating a hazardous environment. There were also moments prior to police arrival where the parking lot asphalt was set on fire. This behavior endangered not only the vehicle operators but also the numerous participants who were in the parking lot, mere feet away from the vehicles, taking videos. Upon police entry into the parking lot, the crowd and vehicles began to disperse rapidly in all directions. It is important to note that this phase of interrupting a large vehicle gathering often presents heightened risk, as fleeing drivers may accelerate dangerously, endangering both the public and law enforcement officers. Recognizing these dangers, officers prioritized public safety and the strategic collection of evidence. This calculated approach allowed for a safer response and laid the groundwork for successful follow-up investigations. Following this event, the Fairfield Police Department established a task force including some officers who responded to the initial incident. Working with our states attorney’s office, this group utilized the strategically collected evidence from the night of the incident to identify and track down the primary offenders involved. The Department emphasizes that progressive police tactics were employed throughout this investigation by means dash camera footage, social media monitoring, and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to gather and corroborate evidence. Thanks to the disciplined and professional conduct of officers during the initial response, sufficient evidence was obtained that directly led to the arrests of David Romero, Wanda Romero, Dilmar Ruano-Barrera, and Christopher McGirl. The vehicles in the videos circulating on social media were identified, which assisted the Fairfield Police Department in obtaining search and seizure warrants for each of them. This investigation took the Fairfield Police Department to jurisdictions outside of Fairfield, where officers executed search warrants on the drivers’ vehicles. While effecting one such search warrant in East Windsor Connecticut, the mother of one offender interfered with Fairfield officers, resulting in Wanda Romero being charged with tampering with physical evidence and interfering with a police investigation. The seized vehicles include a blue Dodge Charger Daytona registered to David Romero (of East Windsor), a GMC Sierra pickup truck belonging to
Christopher McGirl (of Wallingford), and a white Ford Mustang GT owned by Dilmar Ruano- Barrera (of Stamford) are all still in police custody as evidence in the upcoming court
proceedings. The Fairfield Police Department extends its sincere appreciation our State’s Attorney’s Office, The Connecticut State Police, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, as well as the police departments of Stamford, Stratford, Wallingford, and East Windsor, and all officers who contributed their time and effort to ensure a comprehensive and successful investigation. We would also like to extend a special thanks to our community far and wide who assisted in this investigation by sending videos which directly helped aid in our investigation. This case illustrates the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts, and working closely with our community and law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable. Incidents like this have been affecting communities across the State of Connecticut. We want to thank our legislative partners for listening to our concerns and working to increase the repercussions to this type of behavior throughout our state.
The following individuals were arrested:
The following individuals were arrested in connection with the incident and are scheduled to appear at Bridgeport Superior Court on June 13, 2025: David Romero, 20, of East Windsor, was charged with Illegal Racing on Highway, Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Racing on a Highway, Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree, Breach of Peace, Riot 2nd Degree, Unlawful Assembly, Reckless Driving, Failure to Display Plates, and Operation Causing Unnecessary Noise. His bond was set at $75,000. Dilmar Ruano-Barrera, 26, of Stamford, was charged with Illegal Racing on Highway, Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Racing on a Highway, Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree, Breach of Peace, Riot 2nd Degree, Unlawful Assembly, Reckless Driving, Operating a Motor Vehicle Creating Unnecessary Noise, and Unsafe Movement from a Stopped Position. His bond was set at $50,000. Christopher McGirl, 20, of Wallingford, was charged with Illegal Racing on Highway and Unsafe Movement of a Stopped Vehicle, with bond set at $10,000. Wanda Romero, 49, of East Windsor, was charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence and Interfering with Police. Her bond was set at $25,000.
(Westport, CT) Westport Police were notified of a planned protest that will take place on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge (Route 1) on June 14, 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Organizers have alerted the Westport Police that several hundred people have signed up for the protest, but since this is a national protest, they are anticipating attendance to exceed 1000 people. Additionally, the Yankee Doodle Fair will start at 1:00 pm on the same day. Westport Police are advising the public that there will be heavy traffic congestion with possible road closures in the downtown corridor. We encourage motorists to find alternate routes. Westport Police will have a significant presence in the area to assist with both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. If you choose to drive through downtown Westport, please be patient and alert to the increased pedestrian traffic.
FAIRFIELD, CT — State Senator Tony Hwang is applauding a recent decision by the Connecticut Siting Council to reject United Illuminating’s controversial Docket 516R proposal, which would have placed large transmission monopoles along the Metro-North Railroad corridor through Fairfield and Bridgeport.
In a preliminary straw poll vote, the Council voted 4-2 against the proposal, signaling strong opposition and setting the stage for a formal denial. The vote means United Illuminating will now be required to submit a new and fully revised application if it wishes to move forward.
“This is a major victory for the people of Fairfield, Bridgeport, and every community that stood together to oppose a harmful, unnecessary project,” Senator Hwang said. “The people spoke—clearly, persistently, and passionately—and this time, the Siting Council listened.”
The transmission line plan drew significant opposition from local residents, businesses, environmental advocates, and state and local governments. Opponents raised concerns over environmental impacts, community disruption, insufficient public notice, and procedural issues throughout the application process.
Senator Hwang also pointed to bipartisan legislation passed in 2024 (Public Act 24-144), which strengthened notice requirements and required the Council to give greater consideration to environmental and community impacts. “That law helped ensure accountability—and it worked,” Hwang said.
Calling the decision a win for transparency, accountability, and civic engagement, Hwang credited the outcome to widespread community involvement. “Full credit belongs to the community. We stood together, not as partisans, but as neighbors to demand better,” he said. “Your voices made the difference and they will again.”
