Stuff A Cruiser!

Middlesex United Way

100 Riverview Center Suite 230

Middletown, CT 06457

860/346-8695 Fax 860/346-6044

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

November 21, 2011

For more information contact Jill Davoll, Communications Director, 860-346-8695 or

jill.davoll@middlesexunitedway.org

Middlesex United Way Young Leaders Society to hold a Holiday Social and

Stuff-A- Cruiser Toy Drive to Benefit Children and Families of Macdonough

Elementary School

Middletown, CT – The Middlesex United Way’s Young Leaders Society is holding a Holiday

Social and Stuff-A-Cruiser Toy Drive at Esca Restaurant and Wine Bar on Tuesday, December

13th at 5:30 pm. Anyone is welcome to attend this free Holiday Social where you can connect

with other young leaders who live or work in Middlesex County.

Brighten up a child’s holiday season! Please bring an unwrapped gift for a child aged 5-11 and

help us stuff a Middletown Police cruiser. Encourage your co-workers to donate along with you.

All gifts will benefit children and families who attend Macdonough Elementary School. The

event is being sponsored by Attention To Detail in Middletown, with special thanks to Esca and

the Middletown Police Dept.

The Young Leaders Society is a unique and dynamic group providing community involvement,

personal development and networking for individuals or couples 40 years of age or younger

who live and work in Middlesex County. Our mission is to create opportunities for young

professionals to get involved with Middlesex United Way, connect with colleagues and

community leaders and give back to advance the common good.

Esca Restaurant and Wine Bar is located at 437 Main Street, Middletown. If you have

questions regarding this event, please call Middlesex United Way at 860.346.8695.

For more information about Middlesex United Way’s Young Leaders Society visit our website at

www.middlesexunitedway.org/yls or at www.facebook.com/MUWYoungLeadersSociety.

Prescription Drug Take-Back

A Notice from

Middletown Police Department

The Middletown Police Department is pleased to announce that on Saturday, October 29, 2011 we will be hosting a “Prescription Drug Take-Back” drop off initiative. The hours of operation will be from 8:00 AM- 1:00 PM in the police department’s community room located off of the main lobby. This is a walk-in event so no appointment is necessary.

This nationwide, one-day collaborative effort with local and state law enforcement agencies to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our community’s households will serve as an opportunity for the public to turn over pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction.

Expired, unused, or unwanted controlled, substances in our homes are a potential source of supply for the increasing abuse of pharmaceutical drugs in the United States. They are also an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.

The Middletown Police Department is working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to coordinate this effort. Title 21 of the United States Code (21 USC) provides more information regarding controlled substances, or you may go to dea.gov and click on the controlled substances link.

Questions or concerns about the upcoming event may be directed to Lieutenant Gary Wallace, Support Services Unit Supervisor at 860-638-3501 or gwallace@middletownctpolice.com.

Lieutenant Gary Wallace

Middletown Police Department

Support Services/Public Information Officer

860.638.3501

gwallace@middletownctpolice.com

Spate of Burglaries

From the Middletown Police Department

-----------------

In the past two days there have been four suspects arrested for burglarizing residential homes in various parts of the city. The rapid response of the Middletown Patrol Division along with alert Middletown citizens helped to catch the suspects during the commission of the crime. Officers in patrol, detectives in specialized divisions, and officers working private duty jobs all assisted in the speedy capture of the suspects. Several thousand dollars in stolen items were recovered from the suspects.

The Investigative Services Division is continuing the investigation as the suspects arrested in the past twenty-four hours may have been involved in a crime spree of burglaries within Middletown and surrounding towns.

We would like to remind the citizens of Middletown that there are several things

that they can do to protect themselves and their neighbors from this type of crime.

• If you see suspicious vehicles or people in your neighborhood call the police. Try to give a good description to the police dispatchers, such as license plate number, color and makeof the car, and any distinguishing marks. Clothing descriptions on the suspicious person, whatever catches your eye about the person or car, pass the information along to the police.
• If you see someone suspicious do not confront them, call the police. Many people who burglarize homes are desperate and may act on that.
• Keep your doors and windows locked. If you have an alarm make sure you set the alarm,even if you just leaving the house for a quick errand.
• If someone knocks on your door that you do not recognize do not answer the door. If a sales person comes to you house, call the police department to make sure they haveapermit to go door to door.
• Do not leave your valuables in plain view. That beautiful jewelry box you got as a gift may be the perfect place to store your jewelry, but it is the first place that a burglar will look.
• Hide your valuables; do not leave lap tops, cameras, cell phones and wallets out in the open.
• Take close-up pictures of your valuables, each piece of jewelry should have its own picture.
• Keep a log of all your electronic equipment, including serial numbers, make, model and color. Electronics all look very similar, put a specific identifying mark or carving on the electronic equipment in an inconspicuous spot, then take a picture to document yourelectronic equipment. There are many times that the police come across stolen items, but do not have a way of identifying the owner of the property.
• Get to know your neighbors, talk to them and exchange information about suspicious circumstances you have seen in the neighborhood.

It is important for citizens to remain vigilant. If you see something say something.

The Burglaries and Suspects

9/22/10 at approximately 1pm, police received a call at from a woman who was home on Nejako Dr. and saw Adorno attempting to break into the house. The woman stayed on the phone with police updating them as Adorno gained entry into the home. Adorno was apprehended without incident.

Jonathan Adorno age 20

108 Neanda St., New Britian, CT

Charges: Burglary 2^nd, Criminal Attempt to commit Burglary 2^nd, Possession/Manufacturing of Burglar Tools

Bond: $200,000; Court date: 9/23/10

----------

On 9/22/10 at 12:13pm police officers were dispatched to a home on East Ridge Road, when a resident returned home and heard the toilet flushing. No one was supposed to be at home, so the resident backed out of the house and called the police. The resident observed Oruczadeh exiting the home. Mandeville conspired with Oruczadeah in the commission of the crime and was later located as he fled the scene when officers arrived.

Said Oruczadeh age 23

148 Spring St, Middletown, CT

Charges: Burglary 3^rd, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary 3^rd, Criminal Mischief 3^rd, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 2^nd,

Larceny 2^nd

Bond: $150,000; Court Date: 9/23/10

Derek Mandeville age 21

678

Randolph Rd., Middletown, CT

Charges: Burglary 3^rd, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary 3^rd, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 2nd

Bond: $100,000; Court Date: 9/23/10

----------------

On 9/21/10 at approximately 1:40pm police were notified by the resident on Saybrook Rd, that Perrucci was attempting to gain access into the home.

Perrucci was located and detained by a detective, while a Middletown Police K-9 tracked from the victim’s home to Perrucci.

Justin Perrucci age 25

10 Rose Cir, Middletown, Ct

Charges: Criminal attempt to commit Burglary 2^nd, Burglary 2^nd

Bond: $75,000, Court Date: 9/22/10

From 1995: Police Officer is Suspended Over Incident

This article was published exactly 15 years ago today, appearing in The Hartford Courant of September 19, 1995. Note: I have modified the article to eliminate the names of both the officer, the teenager, and the mother. All of my modifications are italicized.

----------------------------

A city police officer starts a five- day suspension without pay today as punishment for placing a choke hold on a teenager he says he suspected of carrying drugs.

The officer, a veteran of the department for 7 1/2 years, was found guilty of officious behavior by the police department's internal trial review board last month.

The same board cleared him of a second charge of conduct unbecoming an officer. He could not be reached for comment Monday. He will be eligible to return to work at midnight Saturday, Deputy Police Chief Ronald E. Lee said.

Department regulations define officious behavior as engaging in "any cruel or unjust use of authority" or exhibiting "harshness or severity in the discharge of duty."

The officer's punishment was decided by police Chief George R. Aylward, who reviewed similar cases in the department's history, Lee said.

The maximum punishment could have been a suspension of up to 10 days.

Lee said the punished officer is a dedicated officer. He believed the punishment was just.

"This discipline in no way says he is not a capable police officer," Lee said. "But we will do whatever we can to bring him back in line and hopefully this will accomplish that."

The mother, whose 16-year-old son was involved in the incident, was less then [sic] pleased with the chief's decision.

By clearing the officer on the charge of conduct unbecoming an officer, the mother said the department is sending a bad message to the people of Middletown."I think this reinforces the attitude many young people have toward the police," she said. "Is this the kind of conduct you can expect from an officer?"

The incident that led to the suspension took place June 5.

The officer said he put 16-year-old teenager in a choke hold because he suspected he was trying to conceal cocaine by swallowing it, according to the officer's report.

No drugs were found and the teenager was not charged. The mother believes the officer started choking her son because the officer was frustrated.

Sergeant Elkin Celebrates His Last Shift Before Retirement

Sergeant Craig Elkin is retiring after 27 years serving the City as a police officer, in the past few years as director of the traffic division. His service on Sunday at the Saint Sebastian Festival was his last shift.

Sergeant Elkin said he hopes to take culinary classes during his retirement.

Thank you for many years of service!

Middletown Cops Zap Crime

Fast action and professional precision shown by Middletown police this evening on the south end of High Street. Since the recent mail box chemical bomb, reported first by the Eye, patrols have appeared to have increased in the neighborhood. This evening at approximately 7pm a screaming white male suspect armed with a knife was seen running down the center of High Street dodging cars heading towards the south end of town. Shortly after a police officer, armed with a taser came only a couple of strides behind the suspect and tried repeatedly to verbally get the armed individual to stop; when this failed, the suspect was tased. The individual instantaneously fell to the ground, and appeared to suffer injury.
Immediately, rescue units appeared, statements were taken, and the bloody street disinfected,all in tandem like a well synchronized dance. Everything went back to normal in about 20 minutes.

Malicious Mischief

Overnight night one of our cars was the target of what I can only call hoodlums. A shrub usually planted by the our front door appeared on top of the car this morning. Getting closer - someone had egged the car and significantly damaged the paint. New paint, I might add, as this car was just repaired after being hit by a "hit & run" driver about 6 weeks ago on this same street (Loveland St.). Double ouch!

In response to our call to the Police Department this morning to report the crime, the officers came within ten minutes. They were through and took pictures but you know the chances of these vandals being caught is next to zero. I do have to say that we did appreciate the officer who expressed his condolences saying "I'm sorry this happened to you."

Personally victimized twice this summer makes me angry and that we we are not the only victims makes me downright enraged. I've heard from the Police that a number of Middletown cars have been broken into over the summer and I have seen several cars in our neighborhood that had graffiti painted on them. In addition to the cars in the area being targeted, McCarthy Park has had a constant series of vandalism incidents. The latest being last weeks' torching of the porta potty. The backboard of the basketball hoop was shattered a few weeks ago and the latest fire was only one of a series. The remaining two park benches (we started out with five) purchased by a grant from the Middlesex Community Foundation have been spray painted and some of the boards have been removed from them.

Who are these hoodlums? Please, if you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood or mine, call the police immediately. We cannot stop these malicious crimes without every one's help.

Arrest Made for Assault

From the Middletown Police Department

On July 6^th, 2009 Middletown Police officers arrested two individuals in connection with two serious incidents including a June 6^th 2009 robbery and assault on Liberty Street and an April 24^th 2009 assault on Lincoln Street.

Jacob Thomas, 19 years, of 30 Swain Avenue, Meriden and a 17 year old Middletown youth were arrested Monday and charged with Robbery 1^st degree, Assault 3^rd degree, Larceny 3^rd degree, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery 1^st and Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 3^rd all in connection with the June 6^th incident.

Additionally, both were charged with Assault 2^nd degree and Conspiracy to commit Assault 2^nd degree in connection with the April 24^th incident.

Both suspects were held on a $700,000.00 court set bonds and will appear in court on July 20.

The arrests come after lengthy investigations by Detectives Baboolal and Duffy.

UPDATE: More on this in the Middletown Press, with some good reporting from Jennifer Sprague, and a rather contentious debate in the "comments" section.

Car Vandalism and Break-ins

Unfortunately, there's been a rash of car break-ins downtown recently, especially in the Main Street area, both in daylight and at night. In a few cases, the car windows were broken and in other cases, items were stolen from the cars. The primary target seems to be GPS systems that are attached and visible on the car's windshield. If you see anything suspicious or have any leads that might help the police, call the non-emergency police dispatch number 347-6941.

Shooting Near Broad Street Books

The Middletown Police department has just notified Wesleyan Public safety of a shooting near Broad Street Books. The Wesleyan spring fling has been canceled/rescheduled (nobody really knows) because of the shooting, and everyone has been advised to stay in-doors.
From Public safety/Wesleyan

"Middletown Police has notified the University that a shooting occurred just after 1:00pm today in the area of Broad Street Books. The suspect has not yet been identified. Middletown Police have responded to the area They advise students, faculty and staff to remain indoors until more information is available."

UPDATE

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Police said a woman was shot in a Middletown bookstore on Wednesday afternoon.

The shooting took place at about 1 p.m. in Broad Street Books, Wesleyan University’s bookstore.

The victim said she didn’t know the shooter.

More info at

http://www.wfsb.com/news/19385305/detail.html

http://www.courant.com/community/news/mr/hcu-middletown-shooting-0506,0,6172233.story

Update (3:30PM): A Wesleyan student was fatally shot. Identity to be released after notification of family.

New Graffiti at Ravine Park?

A friend writes to say that she noticed what may be some new graffiti at Ravine Park. Some of the spray painting was on trees, some on stone, and some on a drain pipe (pictured right).









Here's the one on the stone (it almost looks like something by Public Works or one of the utility companies):

Sherlock Jr.

I was on the final stretch of my morning walk, heading down Rome Avenue, when I spotted a computer bag and two purses leaning against a utility pole.

I reckoned they were purloined, and had been stripped of their valuables, and were left empty.

I opened the bags looking for a phone number, figuring I could find the owners and return what was left. And though I found a drivers license, and a check book (from separate individuals), I couldn't find a number.

So I called the Middletown Police who promptly responded. Officer Bill Porter asked me if I had looked inside. I told him I had, and he asked if I remembered the names. I didn't, but I did see that both items were from Massachusetts.

"Probably the Wesleyan complaint from last night," he said. He immediately called a colleague to find out if he could locate the owners. After examining the license, he determined it these were items reported missing by two Wesleyan students, who, coincidentally, live right across the street from me.

By the time I finished my walk, Porter was at the house returning the items to the grateful students, and trying to determine what had been stolen.

While there's been some friction between Wesleyan students and Middletown Police in the past, this is an example of the police working hard to be sure stolen items were returned to their rightful owners.

City commemorates loss of Dingwall

On the ninth anniversary of his death in the line of duty, the Middletown Police Department, and municipal officials commemorated the life and accomplishments of Sgt. George Dingwall. With tributes from Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, dressed for the homeless count, Chief of Police Lynn Baldoni, and current and former presidents of the police union, the group honored Dingwall and paid respects to his widow, Kim.