April 18, 2009 Police Reports From Around The Nation

Police Officer Injured In Hit-And-Run
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
A police officer was injured in a hit-and-run accident early Friday morning. Friday, April 17, 2009.KMBC.com - Local News -
http://www.kmbc.com/news/

Parolee In Standoff With Police In Ceres
Sacramento News Story -- CERES, Calif.
A parolee who may be armed was involved Friday in a standoff with police in Ceres. Friday, April 17, 2009.KCRA.com - Local News -
http://www.kcra.com/news/

Driver Hits Parked Car During Police Pursuit
Central Coast News -- SALINAS, Calif.
A driver led police on a pursuit through North Salinas before striking a parked car. Friday, April 17, 2009.KSBW.com - Local News -
http://www.ksbw.com/news/

April 16, 2009 - Instatutional Racism Documented In The Greenwich Police Department

Over Fifty Years Later Institutional Racism In The Greenwich Police Department Still Has A Bitter Sting

Another chapter complete in oral history project

Greenwich Post

.....Eugene Moye, a current Cos Cob resident who was the first African American police officer in town. Born in 1922, Mr. Moye, who moved to Greenwich in 1933 and married his wife Jeanette, a white woman, in the late 1940s, was educated in Greenwich public schools, was a veteran of World War II and later a teacher at Western Junior High School.

Initially unsuccessful at getting a teacher’s job in town, Mr. Moye applied to the police department in late 1950 because he needed a job.

“Often times the officers I rode with would not speak. So that was their way of censuring me. Then another guy I rode with did converse with me,” Mr. Moye said of the discrimination he faced there.

“There was one officer who was a pretty decent guy, Hilbert Heberling, a pretty decent guy,” he added. “He said that he was getting tired of people asking him, ‘What is he like?’ Meaning me. Now I’m sure I didn’t come from Mars. I’m sure I was brought up here in the United States.”....

April 17,2009 Iorfino and Corticelli thought they were meeting with a television crime series instead they walked into a roomful of GPD Officers

The Photo:

Officer Pierangelo Corticelli receives congratulations for being a co-winner of this year's Greenwich Lion's Club Clarke Police Award. (Bob Luckey/Greenwich Time photo)

The Headlines:

Police Award Was Chosen By Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg and the Board of Selectmen.

All three selectmen -- First Selectman And Greenwich Police Commissioner Peter Tesei, Greenwich Police Commissioner Peter Crumbine and Lin Lavery -- attended Thursday's ceremony.

The Quotes:

"It's a great honor, there are so many worthy officers and investigations which are equally deserving," said Detective Pasquale Iorfino, a 22-year police veteran. "We were spending much more time with one another than we were with our families," Detective Pierangelo Corticelli, a 10-year veteran said.

The Reporter:

Frank MacEachern ( frank.maceachern@scni.com or 625-4434)

The Story:

Kissel cops get top honors Greenwich Time

Greenwich Time

Two town police detectives whose investigation resulted in two arrests in the murder case of Andrew Kissel were honored Thursday as the department's top officers for 2008.

Detectives Pasquale Iorfino and Pierangelo Corticelli received the Dr. John A. Clarke Award, an annual honor from the Greenwich Lions Club....

...Leonard Trujillo, 22, of Worcester, Mass., is charged with capital murder, first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. His cousin, Carlos Trujillo, 48, of Bridgeport, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder. The Trujillos were arrested in March 2008.....

....The Lions Club award is named in honor of Dr. John A. Clarke, a late Greenwich resident who served for years as a medical adviser to Greenwich Police, said Griff Harris, a Lions Club member and chairman of the event. Clarke, who died in 1944, was the first president of the Lions Club in 1923.

The award was first handed out in 1947 and was given to Sgt. William J. Burke....

April 17, 2009 Michael Parrotta Is Really Mad Now That He Is Unable To Post Bail. His Assets Are Tied Up In The Divorce, Which Has Yet To Be Settled

Greenwich stabbing suspect remains in jail

Greenwich Time

A town man accused of stabbing his wife nine times remains in custody after he was unable to post his $1.5 million bond Thursday because of complications from a pending divorce.....

.....A separate hearing on Parrotta's divorce was scheduled in civil court later Thursday afternoon. Russell told Judge referee Martin Nigro that a number of issues were likely to be resolved during that hearing, which Parrotta was scheduled to attend. Russell said he did not know if Parrotta's wife, the victim of the stabbing, would also be present.....

.....Police said Parrotta stabbed his wife in the chest and abdomen with a sharpened screwdriver as she sat in her car on the night of April 2. His wife, who lives separately from Parrotta, had arrived to pick up their son, when her husband leaned in through the car window and began stabbing her.....

Filed Under: Attempted Murder

April 16.2009 Cos Cob man was sentenced to three years probation in federal court Thursday for failing to report $100,000 in cash deposits on his 1040

Cos Cob man gets probation in tax evasion case

Greenwich Time

....Joseph Abbazia, 39, of 3 DeLuca Drive, pleaded guilty in August 2008 to the charge of illegally structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements.

Prosecutors said Abbazia earned income by providing property management services to state residents and then structured the cash deposits in different banks in amounts less than $10,000 to prevent the banks from filing Currency Transaction Reports with the federal government, according to court records. Officials said the crimes took place from 2003-04.....

.....Abbazia was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christopher F. Droney.....

....In addition to probation, Abbazia will also be required to pay a $10,000 fine....

....Abbazia has amended his federal income tax returns for the 2003 and 2004 tax years and paid all back taxes....

Filed Under: White Collar Crime

April 16, 2009 Fire And EMS has always had a problem with the Cos Cob numbering and has organized to ask the Planning and Zoning to solve the problem

The Photo:

(Click To Enlarge)

Maybe Greenwich Emergency Vehicles Should Be Equipped With Multiple GPS Devices When Responding In Cos Cob


The Headline:

First Responders In Cos Cob Can't Find Town Residents Who Are In Trouble.

Starting sometime this summer Planning and Zoning Director Diane Fox plans on renumbering the Cos Cob section of East Putnam Avenue to put it in sync with the rest of the road

The Quote:

"I don't see why the town has chosen now to disrupt small businesses so much," says Joe Cosgrove, owner of Gordon's Gateway to Sports, at 217 East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob. He fears that GPS units won't be able to locate his place when the change happens

The Reporter:

Nick Keppler

The Story:

Going the Wrong Way

Fairfield Weekly

A Cos Cob resident, who preferred not to be identified, told me of an incident where he started bleeding internally because of a medical condition. He called 911 and, while a police officer arrived on the scene, an ambulance was headed to another part of Greenwich.

Why? He was on East Putnam Avenue and several addresses on that Greenwich road share numbers. East Putnam is part of the massively complicated U.S. Route 1, and the stretch of it in the Cos Cob zip code of Greenwich has its own system of numbering, one that not only duplicates numbers of properties on other parts of East Putnam but is all around zany, says town Planning and Zoning Director Diane Fox.

"The two sides of the road aren't separated by odds and evens, and many Cos Cob residents call it 'Boston Post Road,'" says Fox, which is the old, colonial-era name for Route 1 that still remains for parts of it (in Darien and Milford, for example).

....Rod Aguillion, manager of Arcuri's Pizza & Salad at 226 East Putnam Avenue in Cos Cob, on the other hand, says "actually we've had a problem with the street before; it makes it hard for a delivery business." ......

....Assistant Fire Chief Robert Kick, who says he initiated the renumbering, claims the Greenwich Fire Department has to distinguish between the two East Putnam Avenues on "a weekly basis" and "in instances like a heart attack, every second counts."....

April 16, 2009 - Jack Hornak, director of facility operations at The Nathaniel Witherell Says Security There Is "really good"

Officials review Witherell security following southern shootings
Greenwich Post

Officials at The Nathaniel Witherell are taking steps to make the Parsonage Road nursing home a safer place, following a shooting rampage at a similar facility in North Carolina last month.....

He also referenced a recent Greenwich Police Department report assessing security, which said, “The Nathaniel Witherell complex is above most [security] ...

....Jack Hornak, director of facility operations at Witherell, told board members the Monday after the incident that there are closed-circuit television cameras around the perimeter of the Greenwich building and 23 card access doorways.

“If you’re meant to be here, you can get in,” Mr. Hornak said.

He also referenced a recent Greenwich Police Department report assessing security, which said, “The Nathaniel Witherell complex is above most [security] standards.”

Acknowledging that there could be tweaks here and there, Mr. Hornak said, overall, “our system is really good.” ....

‎Apr 14, 2009‎ - The Greenwich Millionaire Murder Mystery - Developer death may have been suicide

Lawyer: CT developer death may have been suicide

Forbes

Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg said police researched the possiblity that Kissel plotted his own death. "We have never ruled it out and never ruled it in" ...

File Under: Murder

April 14.2009 DUI

Timothy Fitzpatrick, 22, of 15 Highview Avenue, was charged with driving while under the influence. He was released on a $250 bond.

Apr 13, 2009‎ - Greenwich Police Department Gets A Thumbs Up

Thumbs up - Thumbs down

Greenwich Time

But a corresponding thumbs up to Greenwich police, who conducted a sting at the above locations and cited 21 drivers for crosswalk violations. ...

Geo Tag: Henry Street, Mill Street

April 12, 2009 Weapons Charges

Raymond Vega, 31, of 1002 Grand St., Bridgeport, was charged with weapons in a motor vehicle. He was released on a $100 bond.

‎Apr 10, 2009‎ - GPD Traffic Sting Operation

Greenwich police go undercover to bust crosswalk violators

Greenwich Time

By Debra Friedman

Pedestrians cross at Henry and Mill streets Thursday, where a police sting operation to catch errant drivers led to 25 citations. ...

Geo Tags: Henry Street, Mill Street

Apr 10, 2009‎ - GPD procedure for handing out precious metal

Another sign of today's hard times

Greenwich Citizen

Debra DeLuca works in the general services division of the Greenwich Police Department. She reported a rigorous procedure for handing out precious metal ...

Apr 10, 2009‎ - GPD News

Byram man stabs estranged wife in car as autistic son looks on

Greenwich Citizen

On Tuesday morning, Greenwich police added two new charges to Parrotta's attempted murder charge and other charges, after a firearm was discovered in his ...

April 7, 2009 More Charges In Byram Attempted Murder

Greenwich man faces more charges in stabbing incident

Stamford Advocate

Detective Kristopher Shockley, of Greenwich Police's Criminal Investigations Division, said Parrotta was prohibited from owning a gun because of a ...

Apr 6, 2009‎

Police call cell phone crackdown a success

Stamford Advocate

Since the law was enacted, Greenwich police have issued nearly 3000 tickets, with 756 tickets issued in 2007 and 1545 in 2008. So far in 2009, ...

ALSO:

Dealing with the rise in domestic violence

Greenwich Citizen

The encouraging word is there are two front lines of defense for the abused - the Greenwich Police Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) and the Domestic Abuse ...

04/05/09 Criminal Trespass: Unwanted man in shower

The Place:

14 Sherman Avenue

The Player:

Carlos A. Aponte, Age 41, of Stamford, was arrested on April 2 at 9 p.m. on charges of criminal trespass in the first degree.

The Plot:

Multiple police units were detailed the residence on a report of an unwanted subject taking a shower in a woman's residence without her permission.

Aponte was found in a bathroom off a hallway in the residence. Upon exiting the bathroom, he was searched and no contraband was found.

The Processing:

Carlos A. Aponte was arrested on charges of criminal trespass in the first degree.

Aponte was unable to pay his $500 cash bond and was held until he appeared in Stamford Superior Court on April 3

Apr 5, 2009‎ - First-Degree Larceny: Luxury Cars Were Rented Out For Only $100 / Day

Valet charged in alleged luxury car rental scheme

Hartford Courant

Greenwich police say a luxury car dealership's valet has been charged with secretly renting out its cars to friends.

Police arrested 41-year-old Virgilio Collins-Meza of Stamford last Wednesday, charging him with five counts of first-degree larceny.

Authorities say Collins-Meza, who worked at Lexus of Greenwich, rented out five Lexus sedans to friends for $100 a day without the dealership's permission or knowledge.

Dealership officials realized March 31 that the cars were missing and reported them stolen ...

Geo Tag: West Putnam Avenue

Apr 4, 2009‎ - Greenwich woman stabbed; husband charged

Greenwich woman stabbed by estranged husband

Connecticut Post

Lt. Richard Cochran, head of Greenwich Police's domestic violence unit, said police believe the attack was premeditated, stemming from Parrotta's anger over ...

Filed Under: Attempted Murder

04/04/09 Disorderly Conduct - Couple arrested following physical dispute

The Place:

12 Salem Street

The Players:

Kathryn Norton, Age 46

Peter Thiesfeldt, Age 45 - The Stamford Boyfriend

The Plot:

On April 2nd, Police were detailed to the Salem residence on a physical domestic dispute with injuries and found Thiesfeldt outside, exhibiting an abrasion to his right forearm, approximately four inches long that he alleged Norton inflected during a physical altercation.

Norton reported that Thiesfeldt did not like her to drink and he becomes violent when she does. After she drank a beer, the physical altercation took place

The Processing:

The couple appeared in Stamford Superior Court the next day, on April 3.

April 3, 2009 - Shoplifting On Greenwich Avenue

The Place:

89 Greenwich Avenue And 89 Greenwich Avenue

The Player:

Ivoni Stefanidis, Age 57, of Norwalk

The Plot:

Police were called to 89 Greenwich Ave. on a shoplifting incident and given the description of a man who was located inside the Kitchen Works store at 89 Greenwich Ave.

While being questioned, Stefanidias was seen attempting to hide items in her purse, which fell to the floor, revealing several items from Kitchen Works.

Police then learned she had been shoplifting from several other stores in the area and they subsequently found $2,759.94 worth of stolen goods in her car.

The Processing:

Ivoni Stefanidis was arrested on charges of larceny in the third degree

Stefanidias was released on $5,000 cash bond and assigned to appear in Stamford Superior Court on April 17.

Filed Under: Third-Degree Larceny

Apr 2, 2009‎

Where is all the stimulus money going?

Greenwich Post

The Greenwich Police Department is on tap to receive a little more than $23000. Chief David Ridberg said that money will likely go to traffic enforcement, ...

ALSO:

Two men arrested in contractor 'sting'

Wilton Villager

Greenwich police received a similar complaint, said the Department of Consumer Protection. "This happens all the time," said Boucher, who noted that such ...

Apr 1, 2009‎ - Wierd But True: Greenwich Drag Queen Bank Robber Pleads Guilty To Bank Robbery

Drag queen bank robber admits to string of Connecticut heists

Stamford Advocate

Detective Lt. Mark Marino, head of the Greenwich police Criminal Investigations Division, said he was pleased with the guilty plea. "This is good news. ...

Filed Under: Robbery

December 27, 2008 - Teen leads police through yards

A 15-year-old Norwalk boy led Greenwich and Port Chester police on a wild, two-state, Christmas day chase for several hours following a car crash, police said. Greenwich police received several reports Thursday afternoon of a teenager fleeing through residents' backyards, jumping over fences and hopping over porches, according to Sgt. John Slusarz. The teen matched the description of a young male wanted in an earlier Port Chester car chase.

Author: By Debra Friedman
Publication: Greenwich Time

December 20, 2008 - Discrimination suit slated for spring

A spring trial date has been set in the racial discrimination case brought by eight Greenwich police officers after a federal judge made a split ruling on the town's motion for summary judgment. U.S. District Judge Mark Kravitz ruled that five claims will be argued before a jury in a federal court in New Haven, while several other elements of the initial complaint have been thrown out.

ALSO:

Police still waiting for ruling

Eight months have passed since promotion case went to Supreme Court

When the town sought an expedited appeal in the case of a Greenwich police officer who sued after he was not promoted to captain, many thought a speedy decision would soon follow, bringing closure to a case that has frozen the police department's ability to fill several key positions for nearly four years. Eight months later, they are still waiting for that decision from the Connecticut Supreme Court, a source of anxiety for a department that is significantly strained.

PLEASE ALSO SEE:

Drivers escape major injuries

Winter arrived Friday via the skies if not yet the calendar, with the season's first major snowstorm. Flakes began falling at 11 a.m., forming a white halo around shoppers and workers across town before covering cars, sidewalks and roads by 1 p.m.

The heaviest snow arrived mid-to-late afternoon, making it a busy one for Dan Warzoha, town emergency management operations director.

"There's 4 inches-plus of snow on the ground," said Warzoha.

The accident, which occurred around noon under the Indian Field Road bridge, resulted from one car sliding on the ice from Saturday's snow storm, and other vehicles subsequently colliding with it, said Sgt. Brent Reeves of the Greenwich Police Department.

Only minor injuries were reported and no extrication of individuals from vehicles was needed

MORE:

Cops ramp up DUI watch

State police have a message to residents during this holiday season - don't make the police your designated driver. Officials have unleashed "Operation Santa," a program that aims to prevent injury and save lives by aggressively targeting drunken drivers.

"We are trying to save lives and keep all of our roads and highways safe," said John Danaher III, state public safety commissioner.

Author: Debra Friedman
Publication: Greenwich Time

December 1, 2008 - Police join task force

Police will appoint a detective to a newly formed state task force that will investigate financial crimes, officials said. The Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force is a joint partnership between the Secret Service and the Connecticut Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. It will comprise federal, state and local investigators, according to police.

Brian Murphy, the resident agent for the Secret Service in Connecticut, said the task force is just coming together

Author: By Debra Friedman
Publication: Greenwich Time

November 24, 2008 - Police begin crackdown for holidays

With the holiday season just around the corner, local and state police will step up their efforts to curb drunken driving with undercover patrols, air surveillance and sobriety checkpoints. "This is definitely a high priority as the holidays approach," said Lt. J. Paul Vance, state police spokesman.

"Our message is clear - drinking and driving can only result in something bad. It can even be deadly."

Author: By Debra Friedman
Publication: Greenwich Time

Filed Under: DUI

11/18/08 The Court Report

Connecticut Trial Court Official Decisions

STATE v. BOTHWELL, No. S2ON-MV07-0003703 (Nov. 14, 2008)
No. S2ON-MV07-0003703
November 14, 2008

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on January 7, 2007, Greenwich police received a call from a private citizen, who reported that he was following a "white Ford Explorer" with Connecticut license plate 187NNK. The caller further reported that the vehicle was being driven erratically, and had already hit some signs and cones. The caller also explained that he too was driving a white Ford Explorer, a 1999 model, while indicating that that the one he was following was a newer vehicle, which he estimated to be a 2004 model.

You Can Guess The Rest

09/23/08 Dawn Rodick Takes Greenwich Police To Court

Connecticut Trial Court Official Decisions

RODOCK v. GREENWICH, No. CV 07-5002954 (Sep. 23, 2008)
No. CV 07-5002954
September 23, 2008

Plaintiff Dawn Rodock has filed a two-count complaint against the town of Greenwich in which she alleges wrongful termination of employment in count one and intentional infliction of emotional distress in count two. According to the complaint the plaintiff was hired by the town as a police officer on January 4, 2006, and attended a four-day orientation at the Greenwich Police Department then began training at the Police Officer Standardized Training Council (POST). This action arises by way of the alleged wrongful termination of the plaintiff by the defendant on May 19, 2006, a week prior to completing her training at POST.

09/04/07 Greenwich Police Taken To Court

Connecticut Trial Court Official Decisions

HONULIK v. TOWN OF GREENWICH, No. X05-CV04-199882S (Sep. 4, 2007)
No. X05-CV04-199882S
September 4, 2007

The plaintiff in the above-entitled action is a thirty-plus-year veteran of the Greenwich Police Department ("Department") where he has risen though the ranks to his present position as a Police Lieutenant. The issue before the court arises out of the plaintiff's lawsuit filed March 27, 2004, in which he seeks relief after having been passed over for promotion to a then vacant position of Police Captain in the same department. Specifically, the plaintiff seeks injunctive relief and damages for breach of contract and promissory estoppel, as well as enforcement of the writs of mandamus and quo warranto. In addition, he alleges that he was deprived of due process and equal protection rights, and accordingly, he seeks further relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.