from a press release:

Bank Robbery
08/23/10 @ 11:16 am

Bank of America
644 Main Ave
Norwalk, CT

Officers and Detectives responded to the scene and learned that one suspect had entered the bank and demanded money stating that he had a gun.

No weapon was ever displayed. No injuries.

After receiving an unspecified amount of cash the suspect fled the bank on foot.

Suspect Description:
Black male in his 20′s with a mustache, thin build, wearing a hat, dark long sleeve sweatshirt and jeans carrying a light blue backpack.

The suspect is still at large at this time.

A surveillance photo of the suspect is attached.

This is an on-going investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Norwalk Police:
(Attention: Sergeant Marc Lepore or Detective Kruger)

Norwalk Police Tipline at 203-854-3111

Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com

Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).

from a press release:

Norwalk Police Arrest Joseph Bateman

This afternoon Norwalk Police Detectives served a felony arrest warrant charging Joseph Bateman, age 19, of Norwalk with Weapons in a Motor Vehicle, CGS 29-38.

On Friday, 08/13/2010 at approximately 1:52 p.m. Amos Brown Jr. was shot near the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Olean Street. Brown succumbed to those injuries Sunday, 08/15/2010.

During the course of the course of the investigation it was determined that Bateman was at the scene of the homicide operating a vehicle that had bullet holes in it. It is unknown if the bullet holes occurred at the time of this shooting. That is also being investigated.

Detectives gathered probable cause and applied for a search and seizure warrant for the vehicle driven by Bateman.  While searching this vehicle, a handgun was recovered.

Detectives applied for an arrest warrant based upon this handgun.

At this time detectives do not believe the weapon seized from Bateman’s car was used in the homicide, however, it will be sent to the State lab for further testing.

The investigation into Bateman’s activities at the time of the shooting is continuing.

Bateman was advised of the arrest warrant and surrendered himself this afternoon at Norwalk Police Headquarters and is being held on a $50,000 bond.

A court date of 08/27/2010 was issued. If bond is not posted, Bateman is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, 08/18/2010, at the Norwalk Superior Court, 17 Belden Avenue.

ARRESTED

Joseph Bateman

Age 19, D.O.B. 04/11/1991

22 Spruce Street

Norwalk, CT

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Norwalk Police:

Norwalk Police Tipline at 203-854-3111

Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com

Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).

For a detailed story on what went down in the murder of Amos “AJ” Brown, read John Nickerson’s report in the Advocate. This is the graf that struck me as significant:

The witness told The Advocate on Monday that Brown, who was driving a black Honda, was being followed as he drove south on Lexington Avenue when the shooting began about 1:50 p.m. Through an interpreter, the witness, who would not give a name for fear of retaliation, said a man in a gold car, which contained a driver and two passengers, began shooting at Brown just as the vehicles passed El Coqui bodega near the corner of Lexington Avenue and Olean Street.

The two cars and a gray Volvo, which had Vermont plates and four men inside, that was ahead of Brown stopped in front of the Faith Lighthouse Church at 50 Lexington Ave., about 100 feet up the street from where the shooting began.

Ambush? Or drug deal that went bad? The real question remains of what AJ Brown was doing on Lexington Avenue in the first place. Meanwhile: Continue Reading

The Hour is reporting that Norwalk’s Amos “AJ” Brown Jr. died tonight after being removed from life support earlier this afternoon. Brown was shot in the head on Friday afternoon. The incident is still under investigation, and no leads have come forward despite witnesses.

But to put in perspective the state of safety in Connecticut, a smattering of weekend headlines:

Meriden Boy, 16, Killed In Bronx Drive-By Shooting

Man Shot To Death Outside New Haven Night Club

Man’s Body Pulled From Yantic River In Norwich

DEP: Body Found In Ashland Pond Is Missing Man

Woman Hit By Box Truck On I-84 Dies

Avon Woman Killed In New Hartford Crash

16-Year-Old Girl Seriously Injured Falling From Cliff

Teen Seriously Injured In Dirt-Biking Accident Along Connecticut River

Unidentified man killed in New Haven crash

Overall a bad weekend to be a resident in Connecticut, regardless of where you live, what you were doing, or where you were going.  But witnesses in New Haven do come forward, resulting in this headline:

Three Hartford Men Arrested In New Haven Fatal Shooting

It’s probably not a good sign when residents report that the New Haven Police Department’s narcotics hot line voicemail box is full.

POLICE NARCOTIC HOTLINE VOICE MAILBOXES FULL

2 people want this fixed
382 Greenwich, New Haven, CT 06511, USA

In New Haven, the See, Click, Fix app lists these are the most recent issues:

The victim of Friday’s shooting is still alive at Norwalk Hospital according to a statement by the Norwalk Police. The investigation continues:

Officers and Detectives have recovered forensic evidence related to this crime.

The investigation is on-going.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Norwalk Police:

Norwalk Police Tipline at 203-854-3111

Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com

Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).

The Stamford Advocate has the details:

A 19-year-old acquitted in the stabbing death of a Bridgeport man in 2008, was shot in the head in South Norwalk Friday afternoon and has been placed on life support, police said.

Amos “A.J.” Brown was in a car in front of the El Coqui bodega on Lexington Avenue when shots rang out and he was critically injured, police said.

Police say Brown was still breathing when he was rushed to Norwalk Hospital, but characterized his injuries as life-threatening.

Lexington Avenue is blocked off and police are investigating the scene. Two cars, a gray Volvo near Snowen Street and a black car next to the El Coqui have bullet holes in them.

A nearby resident said she heard four shots followed by another four to five shots shortly after 2 p.m. Friday.

A jury acquitted Brown of murdering Tykwan Hunt last year, allowing the Norwalk man — who had been jailed for 15 months — to be released.

The jury acquitted Brown, 17, of the original murder charge and lesser offenses of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide.

After denying involvement in Hunt’s death, Brown told police, about a month after Hunt was killed, that Hunt pulled a gun on him and pointed it at his face. Brown said he picked up a knife at his feet and stabbed Hunt.

from a press release:

Norwalk Police Arrest Bank Robbery Suspect

Fairfield County Savings Bank – 121 New Canaan Avenue

On Friday, July 9, 2010 at 9:02 p.m., after a 6 hour manhunt, Norwalk Police Detectives assisted by the US Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, arrested Christopher Wallace, age 24 of Westport, CT.

Wallace was arrested on a warrant and charged with Robbery 1^st degree.

Earlier in the day, at approximately 12:41 p.m., Wallace robbed the Fairfield County Savings Bank located at 121 New Canaan Avenue in Norwalk.

Continue Reading

from a press release:

Date: 7/6/10

Time: 3:32 pm

Location: 26 Chestnut Hill Road, Norwalk CT

Incident: Bank Robbery – Fairfield County Savings Bank

On the afternoon of Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 at 3:32 pm the Norwalk Police Department received a hold-up alarm from the Fairfield County Savings Bank branch located in the shopping plaza at 26 Chestnut Hill Road.  The alarm was then verified that an actual robbery had just occurred and Patrol Units were dispatched to the area.

The area was secured and K-9 Units from the Norwalk Police, Westport Police and Connecticut State Police attempted to track the flight of the suspects.  The track led down Newtown Avenue and leads are being investigated.

The Detective Bureau then arrived on scene and recovered physical evidence that will be examined and analyzed.  Surveillance video footage was also examined and it was determined that at least two suspects were involved in the robbery.  The first suspect entered the bank and went to a teller station where he passed a note implying that he had a gun and demanded money, no weapon was displayed.  The second suspect remained near the front door as a lookout.  Once the robbery was completed the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of money out the door and is believed to have fled out the rear of the shopping plaza onto Newtown Avenue.

Suspect # 1 – White male, 6’1” – 6’4”, thin build. Age is estimated in the mid 20’s.  Wearing a dark green long sleeve hooded sweatshirt or pull over, long white basketball style shorts with blue and yellow trim along the bottom, low white sneakers, dark T-shirt, and a gray baseball hat with an Underarmor logo on the front, sunglasses and a goatee that could be fake.  He was carrying a black shoulder bag similar to a laptop case.

Suspect # 2 – White male, 6’ tall, medium build wearing a dark blue “AERO” 87 hooded sweatshirt with the zipper in the front.

Witnesses believed they observed these two suspects walk into the shopping plaza from Chestnut Hill Road in through the exit and in front of the Fairfield County Savings Bank and then in between the Cranbury Wines and Liquor and Village Gourmet minutes before the robbery.  The suspects caught their attention because they had their hoods up in the middle of the day with high temperatures.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Det. Dave Orr at 203-854-3190 or the Norwalk Police anonymous Tip-Line at 203-854-3111.

Suspect 1

Suspect 1 side

Suspect 2

Suspect 2 back

from a press release:

JOINT LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION TAKES DOWN ALLEGED SOUTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT DRUG TRAFFICKING RING

19 charged in federal court with distributing cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Harry W. Rilling, Chief of the Norwalk Police Department; and Robert Nivakoff, Chief of the Stamford Police Department, today announced that 19 individuals have been arrested on various federal narcotics-distribution charges related to the large-scale distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin in southwestern Connecticut and New York City.

Yesterday, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging 18 of the defendants. An additional defendant was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint.

The charges stem from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation dubbed “Operation Hammertime,” a four-month investigation that was initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with substantial assistance provided by the Norwalk Police Department’s Special Services Squad and the Stamford Police Department’s Narcotics and Organized Crime Squad. The investigation was funded in significant part through the United States Attorney’s Office OCDETF and Anti-Gang initiatives, and the case is being prosecuted by members of the United States Attorney’s Office OCDETF and Gang Units.

According to statements made in today in Bridgeport federal court during the initial presentment of many of the defendants, the investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps. Through the wiretaps, investigating officers identified and dismantled a large drug-trafficking organization allegedly headed by GAVIN HAMMETT.

In association with the arrest of the defendants, law enforcement officers seized more than one kilo of cocaine, more than 200 grams of crack cocaine, multiple bundles of heroin, more than $100,000 in cash, seven vehicles and one firearm.

Charged in the indictments with various counts related to the distribution of narcotics are the following individuals:

GAVIN HAMMETT, a.k.a. “G,” 45, of Ely Ave., Norwalk;

WAYNE BEST, a.k.a. “RAUL” and “ROMEL,” 43, of San Vincenzo, Norwalk;

WILBERT BROWN, a.k.a. “Hat,” 58, of S. Main St., Norwalk;

TRACEY DOWNING, a.k.a. “B.M.,” 41, of Burritt Ave., Norwalk;

DARRYL FILES, 42, of Leon Pl., Stamford;

FRANK GREEN, SR., a.k.a. “Sparks,” 45, of Amelia Pl., Stamford;

MICHAEL HAMMETT, a.k.a. “Tyree,” 29, of Lawn Ave., Stamford;

CHARLES HANDY, a.k.a. “Paco” and “Chumley,” 43, Stamford;

LORENZO JONES, a.k.a. “Bubba Bean,” 46, of Ludlow St., Stamford;

TERRENCE McNICHOL, a.k.a. “Peanut,” 35, of Clinton St., Bridgeport;

ANDRE MESSAM, a.k.a. “Dre,” 35, of Orchard St., Norwalk;

MARK SAMAS, 38, 104 Hansen St., Bridgeport;

ROBERT SINGLETON, a.k.a. “Pimp,” 56, of N. Main St., Norwalk;

JOE SMALLS, a.k.a. “Izzy,” 37, of Claremore Ct., Norwalk;

ROBERT TREGLIA, 46, of N. Taylor Ave., Norwalk;

JOSEPH VANBRACKLE, a.k.a. “Pops,” 74, of Lawn Ave., Stamford;

MASSIEL VARGAS, a.k.a. “Juicy,” 39, of Ely Ave., Norwalk; and

LUIS LNU (last name unknown), a.k.a. “Antonio Herrera-Robles,” of Eastburn Ave., Bronx, NY.

HAMMETT and VARGAS are charged with conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”). If convicted of this charge, each faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a maximum term of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $4 million. FILES, GREEN, and HANDY are charged with conspiring to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base. If convicted of this charge, each of these defendants faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of 40 years, and a fine of up to $2 million. The filing of a second-offender notice under the federal statute for having a prior felony drug conviction would double the mandatory minimum penalties.

HAMMETT, BROWN, McNICHOL, VARGAS, and LUIS LNU are charged with conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of powder cocaine. If convicted of this charge, they face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of 40 years, and a fine of up to $2 million. The filing of a second-offender notice under the federal statute for having a prior felony drug conviction would double the mandatory-minimum penalties.

BEST, DOWNING, MICHAEL HAMMETT, JONES, SAMAS, SINGLETON, SMALLS, TREGLIA, and VANBRACKLE are charged with conspiring to distribute a quantity of cocaine. LUIS LNU and MESSAM are charged with conspiring to distribute a quantity of heroin. If convicted of these charges, each defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million.

In addition, JERRY LIVINGSTON, 48, from Norwalk, was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging him with conspiring to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base and 500 grams or more of powder cocaine.

U.S. Attorney Fein commended the federal and local law enforcement agents and officers who conducted this collaborative investigation.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners in Norwalk and Stamford to combat drug trafficking and related activity in order to improve the quality of life in our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Fein.

“DEA and our law enforcement partners are determined to keep our cities free of the misery that drugs bring to the community,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Derr. “We believe that, as a result of this joint law enforcement action, these neighborhoods are safer today.”

“The Norwalk Police Department is grateful to our federal partners from the DEA and our partners from the Stamford PD,” stated Norwalk Police Chief Rilling. “These high level joint operations are very effective in removing the criminal element from our communities. Norwalk will certainly be a safer place as a result of this operation.”

“The coordinated and tactical efforts of the City of Stamford PD and our law enforcement partners have maximized the impact of regional narcotic distribution investigations,” stated Stamford Police Chief Nivakoff.

U.S. Attorney Fein stressed that the charges are not evidence of guilt. The charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s DEA’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force (composed of members of the Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk and Stratford Police Departments, and the Connecticut State Police), along with substantial participation by members of the Norwalk and Stamford Police Departments. The United States Marshals Service and the Bridgeport Police Department assisted in the arrests of the defendants today.

The federal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Spector and Hal Chen.

The Hour reports that a plea deal was struck in the Lt. Cummings trial:

Cummings was arrested in Jan. 2008 and charged three counts of risk of injury to a minor, two counts of second-degree sexual assault and three counts of risk of injury to a minor.

A 15-year-old Weston boy sparked the investigation into Cummings’ alleged illicit activities in November 2007 when he alerted authorities to his relationship with Cummings, according to court documents. Cummings never faced criminal charges regarding the Weston boy.

However, prosecutors discovered two men who claimed Cummings had sex with them when they were 15 years old. Another man also claimed that Cummings tried to seduce him when he was 15 years old. The activities were alleged to have taken place from 2003 to 2005.

Colangelo said he knew that testifying at the trial would be difficult for the victims, but “they all indicated that they were ready, willing and able to proceed.”

Within the past week, developments regarding two of the alleged victims in the case forced the state to reconsider its charges, according to Colangelo.

Some of the charges were nolled because one of the alleged victims in the case was psychologically unable to testify at the trial, according to Colangelo.

Colangelo said he could have forced the witness to testify, but preserving the victim’s well-being is his first priority.

“In sexual assault cases especially, I feel my duty as a prosecutor is to make sure the victim is mentally okay before, during and after (the trial),” he said.

Technically, Colangelo could reopen a case that was nolled because of a missing witness within 13 months of the disposition. He said he does not anticipate reopening the Cummings case.

Another man who said he was 15 years old at the time when he allegedly had sex with Cummings recanted his statement and now says he was 16-years-old — the age of consent — when the incident occurred, Colangelo said.