Former 'Amazon Teacher Of Year' Accused Of Raping Massachusetts Middle School Student: DA Former 'Amazon Teacher Of Year' Accused Of Raping Massachusetts Middle School Student: DA
Former 'Amazon Teacher Of Year' Accused Of Raping Massachusetts Middle School Student: DA A former Massachusetts teacher once named one of Amazon's teachers of the year has been charged with raping a child, authorities announced.  Tymond Tran was charged with aggravated rape of a child with a 5-year age difference, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, posing or exhibiting a child in the nude, and providing obscene matter to a minor, the Essex County District Attorney's Office said.  The allegations stem from incidents that prosecutors said happened in Lynn in 2022, while he taught computer science at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.  Tran pleaded …
CT Art Dealer Admits To Stealing $2M+ From Elderly Client's Estate: Feds CT Art Dealer Admits To Stealing $2M+ From Elderly Client's Estate: Feds
CT Art Dealer Admits To Stealing $2M+ From Elderly Client's Estate: Feds A Connecticut business owner admitted stealing more than $2 million from an elderly client and the client's estate after being placed in a position of trust, federal prosecutors said. David L. Johnson, 66, of Greenwich, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, July 21, before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to a money laundering charge tied to the theft, according to David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. He faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 30. Johnson operated Antique Treasures LLC and Greenwich Auction, both based in Stam…
SWAT Called To Arrest Whitewater Attorney In New Jersey Assault Case: Police SWAT Called To Arrest Whitewater Attorney In New Jersey Assault Case: Police
SWAT Called To Arrest Whitewater Attorney In New Jersey Assault Case: Police A prominent attorney known for his role in the 1990s Whitewater scandal was arrested in Bergen County after authorities said he hid inside his home while officers attempted to take him into custody, bringing a SWAT team to the scene. Robert William Ray, 66, was arrested in Englewood Cliffs on Tuesday, July 21, on charges of simple assault and terroristic threats, according to Bergen County Jail records. He remained held in the Bergen County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon, July 22. Officers went to Ray's home to arrest him on the assault charges, but he did not answer the door, Englewood Cli…
Fill-Up Of The Valkyries: Mass Gas Station Turns Pumps Into Concert Hall With Live Orchestra Fill-Up Of The Valkyries: Mass Gas Station Turns Pumps Into Concert Hall With Live Orchestra
Fill-Up Of The Valkyries: Mass Gas Station Turns Pumps Into Concert Hall With Live Orchestra The only thing most drivers expect at the pump is sticker shock. One Massachusetts gas station is giving them a string quartet instead. Quincy Gas in Quincy has been surprising customers this year with live orchestra performances just steps from the pumps. The unexpected soundtrack has caught attention on social media, turning routine fill-ups into moments that drivers are talking about long after they leave. Owner Harvey Kertzman said the idea was simple. "People are paying so much money for gas, and they get the gas but don't leave with a smile on their face," Kertzman told The Boston Gl…
New Britain Fire Kills Neurologist, Wife Who Also Worked At L+M In Infectious Diseases New Britain Fire Kills Neurologist, Wife Who Also Worked At L+M In Infectious Diseases
New Britain Fire Kills Neurologist, Wife Who Also Worked At L+M In Infectious Diseases Authorities have identified the two people killed in an overnight Connecticut house fire as retired neurologist Dr. Daniel Moalli and his wife, Glenna Moalli, who worked in infectious diseases. New London police said Daniel Moalli, 90, and Glenna Moalli, 77, were killed when a fire broke out at their Chapel Drive home around 11:20 p.m. Monday, July 20. Firefighters arrived within minutes and found a working fire on the first floor, New London Fire Chief Vernon Skau said. Four people had been inside the home when the fire started. Two occupants escaped before crews arrived. Firefighters sea…
Bystander Shot At Southington Bar Still On Life Support; Faces Months Of Surgeries: Family Bystander Shot At Southington Bar Still On Life Support; Faces Months Of Surgeries: Family
Bystander Shot At Southington Bar Still On Life Support; Faces Months Of Surgeries: Family A 25-year-old man whose family said he was caught in the crossfire during a violent Connecticut bar fight last week remains on life support after being shot in the chest, and he now faces months of surgeries and rehabilitation. Justin Woodbury was shot Wednesday evening, July 15, during the weekly Bike Night event at Southington's Cadillac Ranch, which attracts motorcycle enthusiasts and members of several motorcycle clubs. During the event, a large fight broke out, ending with Woodbury being shot and a 44-year-old man being severely beaten by four people, police said. Related: 8 Men Arres…
Body Cam Shows Lethal CT Police Shooting In Fatal Bat Attack; Police ID Suspect Body Cam Shows Lethal CT Police Shooting In Fatal Bat Attack; Police ID Suspect
Body Cam Shows Lethal CT Police Shooting In Fatal Bat Attack; Police ID Suspect Newly released body camera video shows the moments a Meriden police officer fatally shot a man who investigators say ignored repeated commands to stop beating another man with a baseball bat. The footage was released with a preliminary status report from Connecticut Inspector General Eliot D. Prescott on Tuesday, July 21, detailing the ongoing investigation into the fatal police shooting that happened on Sunday, July 19, on Sagamore Road in Meriden. According to the Inspector General, Officer Anthony Offiaeli was the first officer to arrive after police were dispatched to an active domestic…
CT Motorcyclist Repeatedly Stabbed, Robbed In Brazen Daylight Attack: Police CT Motorcyclist Repeatedly Stabbed, Robbed In Brazen Daylight Attack: Police
CT Motorcyclist Repeatedly Stabbed, Robbed In Brazen Daylight Attack: Police A 58-year-old Connecticut motorcyclist was surrounded by a large rideout group, robbed of his cellphone, and repeatedly stabbed in the back with a screwdriver in a brazen daytime attack, police said. Kevin Manuel Rodriguez, 20, of Waterbury, and a 13-year-old from Cheshire were arrested in connection with the assault, which happened around 2 p.m. Sunday, July 20, near 503 Main St. in the Plantsville section of Southington.  Officers responded after multiple 911 callers reported a large group riding bicycles, e-bikes, and mopeds was blocking traffic and creating disturbances. As police …
Nurse Didn't Call 911 For Fear Of Prison After Windsor Locks Patient Wandered Into Snow: Report Nurse Didn't Call 911 For Fear Of Prison After Windsor Locks Patient Wandered Into Snow: Report
Nurse Didn't Call 911 For Fear Of Prison After Windsor Locks Patient Wandered Into Snow: Report One of two former employees of a Connecticut nursing home allegedly did not call 911 after a 93-year-old resident with dementia wandered into freezing temperatures for hours because he feared they "could go to prison," according to a court report. That fear could now come true. Police arrested two former Bickford Health Care Center employees in connection with the Feb. 8 death of Margaret Healey, who walked out of the Windsor Locks nursing home during the night and died hours later. Registered nurse Papy Bibo, 53, of Manchester, was charged this week with criminally negligent homicide and t…
Wethersfield Woman, 31, Sexually Coerced Long Island 13-Year-Old She Met Online: Feds Wethersfield Woman, 31, Sexually Coerced Long Island 13-Year-Old She Met Online: Feds
Wethersfield Woman, 31, Sexually Coerced Long Island 13-Year-Old She Met Online: Feds A Connecticut woman is accused of grooming a 13-year-old New York boy on Discord before driving him to her home and attempting to sexually abuse him, federal authorities said. Amily Colon, 31, of Wethersfield, was arrested Friday, July 17, on a federal criminal complaint charging her with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to the US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.  Colon allegedly used the name "Alice" when she started an online relationship with the 13-year-old boy from New York, according to cou…
Speeding Driver Triggers 5-Car Chain Reaction Crash On I-91 In Windsor; 4 Taken To Hospital Speeding Driver Triggers 5-Car Chain Reaction Crash On I-91 In Windsor; 4 Taken To Hospital
Speeding Driver Triggers 5-Car Chain Reaction Crash On I-91 In Windsor; 4 Taken To Hospital A speeding driver sparked a five-car chain-reaction crash on Interstate 91 North in Windsor that sent four people to the hospital with minor injuries, according to authorities.  Four of the five vehicles were slowing down near Exit 37 or stopped because of traffic ahead when a fifth vehicle approached from behind, "traveling at a high rate of speed" shortly after 6:49 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, Connecticut State Police said.  The driver swerved right in an attempt to avoid a crash. Instead, the vehicle clipped the rear of an SUV in the right lane, investigators said. The SUV lost c…
Wallingford School PTO Treasurer Stole $22K From Elementary School Group, Police Say Wallingford School PTO Treasurer Stole $22K From Elementary School Group, Police Say
Wallingford School PTO Treasurer Stole $22K From Elementary School Group, Police Say A former Connecticut elementary school PTO treasurer is accused of stealing about $22,000 from the organization that supports local students and teachers. Erica L. Vitale, 39, of Wallingford, was arrested Friday, July 17, according to police. She served as treasurer for the Highland Elementary School PTO and had full access to the group's funds.  The PTO claims $22,000 is missing from their accounts, and Vitale cannot account for it, police explained.  Vitale is charged with first-degree larceny and fraudulent use of an automated teller machine, Wallingford police said. She …
CT Motorcyclist Critically Injured After Losing Control In Crash While Riding With Other Bikers CT Motorcyclist Critically Injured After Losing Control In Crash While Riding With Other Bikers
CT Motorcyclist Critically Injured After Losing Control In Crash While Riding With Other Bikers A 35-year-old Bridgeport man is fighting for his life after crashing his motorcycle on a New Haven street while riding with a group of other motorcyclists, police said. Editor's note: Police initially reported the man had died, but issued a correction just after 12:30 p.m. Monday after our story was published.  Officers believe the man was riding west on Grand Avenue near the intersection of East Street in New Haven when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed around 11:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, police said.  Responding officers found the rider with severe injuries.&…
Suspect Shot Dead By Police Following Fatal CT Baseball Bat Attack: OIG (Update) Suspect Shot Dead By Police Following Fatal CT Baseball Bat Attack: OIG (Update)
Suspect Shot Dead By Police Following Fatal CT Baseball Bat Attack: OIG (Update) Update: The man whom police shot after investigators said he beat a man to death with a baseball bat has also died from his gunshot injuries, authorities announced Monday afternoon, July 20. Police have released few details on his death or the other victim.  Original: Connecticut State Police released new details after a Meriden police officer shot a suspect accused of beating someone to death with a baseball bat over the weekend. An officer responded to a home on Sagamore Road in Meriden around 10 a.m. Sunday, July 19, after reports of a domestic violence incident. Police arrived to f…
Enfield Driver Killed After Car Rolls Onto I-91 In Windsor, Hit By Oncoming Vehicle Enfield Driver Killed After Car Rolls Onto I-91 In Windsor, Hit By Oncoming Vehicle
Enfield Driver Killed After Car Rolls Onto I-91 In Windsor, Hit By Oncoming Vehicle A Connecticut man was killed over the weekend after his car crashed, rolled over, and was hit by another vehicle on Interstate 91 in Windsor, according to  David Csaszar, 35, of Enfield, was driving a Chevrolet Malibu on I-91 North near Exit 37 around 3:41 a.m. Sunday, July 19, when Connecticut State Police said he left the roadway and hit the guardrail along the right shoulder. His car then crossed all three travel lanes, hit the median, and rolled onto its side in the center lane. An Infiniti G35 then slammed into the overturned Malibu, police said. Csaszar was pronounced dead at th…
Grandma's Zip-Tie Post Surfaces After Naked Boy Found On Road After Fleeing Zip-Tied Baby Gate Grandma's Zip-Tie Post Surfaces After Naked Boy Found On Road After Fleeing Zip-Tied Baby Gate
Grandma's Zip-Tie Post Surfaces After Naked Boy Found On Road After Fleeing Zip-Tied Baby Gate A Pennsylvania grandmother accused of helping confine her 5-year-old autistic grandson behind a zip-tied baby gate once shared a Facebook post titled, "How to escape a zip tie in less than a minute," years before the boy was found naked wandering along a Lebanon County road, according to court documents obtained by Daily Voice. Stephanie Ann Schaffner, 42, shared the "Survival Skills" video on Facebook in March 2019. The post resurfaced after Schaffner, the child's mother, Jade Destiny Shuey, 21, and Tucker Flyn Heagy, 20, were charged in connection with the child's living conditions followi…
Ex-State Trooper Accused Of Drunk Crash In Southington Gets Chance To Avoid Conviction: Report Ex-State Trooper Accused Of Drunk Crash In Southington Gets Chance To Avoid Conviction: Report
Ex-State Trooper Accused Of Drunk Crash In Southington Gets Chance To Avoid Conviction: Report A former Connecticut State Police trooper accused of crashing his cruiser while off duty with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit has been granted a special diversionary program, according to CT Insider. Jacob Drechsler, 24, of Southington, was granted Accelerated Rehabilitation, a two-year diversionary program, on Wednesday at state Superior Court in New Britain, the report said. The decision stems from a Halloween night crash on Flanders Road on Oct. 31 in Southington. The program provides Drechsler the opportunity to avoid a criminal conviction if he completes its…
Police ID Woman Believed To Have Drowned In Reservoir Police ID Woman Believed To Have Drowned In Reservoir
Police ID Woman Believed To Have Drowned In Reservoir Authorities have identified a 68-year-old woman who drowned at a Connecticut home earlier this week. Mary Tracy Shepley was found at a home on Triangle Drive in East Haddam around 9:30 p.m on Wednesday, July 15, Connecticut State Police said.  Initial reports said her family found her in the nearby Moodus Reservoir after the family dog returned home alone and wet.  Paramedics rushed her to an area hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.  Police have not released any other information. The incident remains under investigation. 
Bike Night Turns Violent At Southington Bar: Man Shot And Critically Wounded, 8 Arrested Bike Night Turns Violent At Southington Bar: Man Shot And Critically Wounded, 8 Arrested
Bike Night Turns Violent At Southington Bar: Man Shot And Critically Wounded, 8 Arrested What began as a packed motorcycle event at a popular Connecticut bar ended in gunfire, a violent assault, and eight arrests, according to police. The shooting happened Wednesday evening during Southington's Cadillac Ranch's weekly Bike Night event, which draws motorcycle enthusiasts and members of several motorcycle clubs. Police were called to the 45 Jude Lane bar around 7 p.m. for a reported shooting. Officers arrived to find a 25-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso in what police described as a "very congested crowd." He was taken to a hospital and remains in critic…
CT Man Gets 42 Years For Fatal Gas Station Shooting CT Man Gets 42 Years For Fatal Gas Station Shooting
CT Man Gets 42 Years For Fatal Gas Station Shooting A Connecticut man will spend more than four decades in prison for the 2023 fatal shooting at a Terryville gas station, authorities announced.  Charles Whitfield Jr., 43, of Plymouth, was sentenced Tuesday, July 14, to 42 years in prison after a New Britain Superior Court judge found him responsible for the 2023 murder of Phillip Harris. A Superior Court jury in New Britain found Whitfield guilty of murder on May 4, 2026. The case centered on the killing of Harris, 42, of New Britain, at the Gulf Gas Station on Main Street in the Terryville section of Plymouth. Police said Harris was s…
2 Girls Fight Off Knife-Wielding Attacker In Attempted Sex Assault At State Park: Police 2 Girls Fight Off Knife-Wielding Attacker In Attempted Sex Assault At State Park: Police
2 Girls Fight Off Knife-Wielding Attacker In Attempted Sex Assault At State Park: Police A 23-year-old man is accused of threatening two young girls with a knife before trying to sexually assault them at Kettletown State Park, where police said the girls fought back with rocks, escaped, and found help from other visitors. Darius Moreno, of Southbury, was arrested after the attack, which happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Southbury park, according to a report from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Environmental Conservation Police. Investigators said the girls were hiking along Kettletown Brook when Moreno came up behind one of them, put he…
Quick-Thinking Man Saves Teen Brother From Drowning In CT Lake; Rescue Boat Capsizes Quick-Thinking Man Saves Teen Brother From Drowning In CT Lake; Rescue Boat Capsizes
Quick-Thinking Man Saves Teen Brother From Drowning In CT Lake; Rescue Boat Capsizes An 18-year-old Connecticut man is alive thanks to his fast-acting brother.  The teenager nearly drowned Tuesday afternoon, July 14, in Lake Zoar in Oxford. Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Environmental Conservation officers responded to the end of Jackson Cove Road for a report of a possible drowning. The 18-year-old jumped from cliffs in Kettletown State Park into Lake Zoar, but struggled to keep his head above water before slipping beneath the surface, according to DEEP. The man's brother pulled him to shore and began CP…
Missing Connecticut Man Believed Found Dead In CT River In Western Massachusetts: DA Missing Connecticut Man Believed Found Dead In CT River In Western Massachusetts: DA
Missing Connecticut Man Believed Found Dead In CT River In Western Massachusetts: DA Police believe they have recovered the body of a 36-year-old Connecticut man from the Connecticut River in Massachusetts on Tuesday, July 15, after he disappeared last week. Jonathan Maxwell, of Wolcott, Connecticut, was reported missing after he was last seen in the area known as "The Meadows" in Northampton, Massachusetts, around 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the Northwestern District Attorney's Office. A bystander found the body near Shepherds Island and Middle Meadow Road around 3 p.m. Tuesday. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has…
CT Police Sergeant Arrested After Shoving Hartford Cop At Yard Goats Game: Report CT Police Sergeant Arrested After Shoving Hartford Cop At Yard Goats Game: Report
CT Police Sergeant Arrested After Shoving Hartford Cop At Yard Goats Game: Report A Connecticut officer found himself on the other side of the handcuffs after police said he was arrested following a disturbance at a Hartford Yard Goats game that ended with him allegedly shoving another officer. Orange Police Sgt. Frank Koshes was arrested Saturday, July 11, near the Main Street and Pleasant Street entrance to Dunkin' Park in Hartford, according to a Hartford police arrest log. Hartford authorities have not publicly detailed the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Koshes was attending the Yard Goats game with 40-year-old John Hatfield when Hartford police responded to …
Massachusetts Man Guilty In Scheme Linked To Armed Iranian Drones Used In Killing 3 US Troops Massachusetts Man Guilty In Scheme Linked To Armed Iranian Drones Used In Killing 3 US Troops
Massachusetts Man Guilty In Scheme Linked To Armed Iranian Drones Used In Killing 3 US Troops A Massachusetts man has been convicted of helping send sensitive American technology to Iran through a years-long export scheme tied to the country's military drone program, federal authorities announced on Tuesday, July 14. Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 43, of Natick, was convicted by a federal jury in Boston after a 14-day trial on Monday, July 13, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts announced. He was found guilty of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, along with two additional export-relat…
Off-Duty CT Police Officer, Passenger Mom Of 3 Killed In Head-On Motorcycle Crash Off-Duty CT Police Officer, Passenger Mom Of 3 Killed In Head-On Motorcycle Crash
Off-Duty CT Police Officer, Passenger Mom Of 3 Killed In Head-On Motorcycle Crash An off-duty Bridgeport police officer and his passenger were killed when their motorcycle collided head-on with a Jeep, leaving the other driver hospitalized with serious injuries. Cooper Whiteside, 38, of Danbury, and Brittany Islami, 34, of New Milford, died in the 2:45 a.m. Monday, July 13, crash on Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury, according to police. Danbury officers arrived to find Whiteside, who was riding the Harley-Davidson, and Islami dead in the roadway. The Jeep Compass sustained severe front-end damage. Firefighters extricated the SUV driver, who was rushed to Danbury Hospital wit…
Manchester Police Shooting: IG Says No Knife Found Where Teen Was Shot, Despite 911 Claims Manchester Police Shooting: IG Says No Knife Found Where Teen Was Shot, Despite 911 Claims
Manchester Police Shooting: IG Says No Knife Found Where Teen Was Shot, Despite 911 Claims Connecticut state investigators have released new details about a police shooting that left an 18-year-old wounded, including the revelation that no knife was recovered from the area where he was shot. Authorities have also released partial police body camera footage of the shooting. The Connecticut Office of the Inspector General released a preliminary report Tuesday, July 14, on the officer-involved shooting that happened late Saturday at a home on Parker Street in Manchester. The agency, along with the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad, continues to investigate. …
CT Woman Killed After Loose Truck Tire Bounces Over I-95 Median, Smashes Into Her SUV CT Woman Killed After Loose Truck Tire Bounces Over I-95 Median, Smashes Into Her SUV
CT Woman Killed After Loose Truck Tire Bounces Over I-95 Median, Smashes Into Her SUV A 24-year-old Connecticut woman was killed after a detached truck tire crossed the median on Interstate 95 and crashed through her SUV's windshield, according to police.  Catherine Margaret Palaia, of Stratford, was driving south on I-95 around 10:23 p.m. Sunday, July 13, in Milford when the crash happened. Connecticut State police identified the victim on Monday. Investigators said Palaia was driving a 2020 Toyota RAV4 when the front left tire of a northbound 2012 Ford F-250 detached from the truck. The tire struck multiple vehicles before bouncing over the concrete median barrie…
CT Man Killed After Harley Crashes Into Guardrail On Route 8 CT Man Killed After Harley Crashes Into Guardrail On Route 8
CT Man Killed After Harley Crashes Into Guardrail On Route 8 A 68-year-old Connecticut man died after a motorcycle crash on a Route 8 exit ramp in Thomaston, authorities said. John Kastanaras, of Easton, lost control of his 2004 Harley-Davidson FXSTDI while riding on the Route 8 South Exit 40 off-ramp around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 12, according to Connecticut State Police. His motorcycle crashed into a metal guardrail. Kastanaras was taken to a Waterbury hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said. The crash remains under investigation, according to state police. Anyone with information is asked to contact Troop L at (860) 626-7900.
2 Juveniles Charged In Fatal CT Double Shooting That Killed Young Father, Teen Girl 2 Juveniles Charged In Fatal CT Double Shooting That Killed Young Father, Teen Girl
2 Juveniles Charged In Fatal CT Double Shooting That Killed Young Father, Teen Girl Police in Connecticut have arrested two juvenile suspects in connection with the deadly shooting outside a Waterbury nightclub over the July Fourth weekend. Trevon Dunbar, 22, and Zaniya Dawkins, 18, both of Waterbury, were shot outside LA 42 Night Club in Waterbury just after midnight on Sunday, July 5, police said. Both were taken to area hospitals, where Dunbar died Monday, and Dawkins succumbed to her wounds Tuesday. It's unclear who they were aiming at or why.  Waterbury police said investigators identified the shooting suspects as two juveniles and arrested them Friday, July 10,…
East Hampton Teen Dies After Falling Into Crystal Pond; Appeared To Have Medical Emergency East Hampton Teen Dies After Falling Into Crystal Pond; Appeared To Have Medical Emergency
East Hampton Teen Dies After Falling Into Crystal Pond; Appeared To Have Medical Emergency A 15-year-old girl died after falling from a paddle board in a Connecticut pond over the weekend. The unidentified East Hampton teen was paddling at Crystal Pond in Eastford on Sunday, July 12, when she fell into the water around 12:15 p.m., according to the Environmental Conservation Police. Witnesses told investigators the teen appeared to suffer a medical emergency before she fell into the water, authorities said.  A good Samaritan jumped into the pond to pull her from the water.  Rescuers treated her on shore before responders rushed her to Day Kimball Hospital in Putna…