Daily Blotter – Dec. 15

A Roundup of All Things Criminal in CT

Police Investigate Interstate Drive-By

State police are investigating after bullets flew on Interstate 84 in Hartford Sunday. A drive-by shooting occurred early Sunday on I-84 westbound near exit 48 in Hartford, troopers said. Both the driver and a passenger were hurt when the victim's vehicle was hit, police said. The injuries are not life-threatening.


Crooks Leave Evidence in Botched ATM Robbery

Farmington police are trying to find witnesses to a botched attempt to steal an automatic teller machine from a gas station. Police hope someone may have seen a getaway car leaving the Sunoco gas station on Route 4 after three men drove into the building Friday with a stolen truck and tried to steal the ATM.  The burglary attempt was interrupted before they could pull the ATM out of the building when the store alarm went off, police said.  A truck stolen from a New Britain construction site was abandoned where it had crashed into the building, police said. Police believe the robbers had a second getaway car to leave in.


Busted Bus Driver Heads to Court

A Burlington school bus driver accused of drunken driving while students were on board is due in court Monday. Paula Thibault, 40, was arrested after her bus hit a utility pole earlier this month, police said. None of the 15 elementary school students on board were hurt. Thibault has since lost her job with the Region 10 School District.


He's Just Faking Mental Illness, Prosecutor Says

A California man will stand trial, accused of hauling a 50-pound load of marijuana in a truck. A judge has ruled Barry Diaz, 25, is mentally fit to stand trial. The prosecutor said the state believes Diaz is faking mental illness to avoid prosecution. Authorities said Diaz is one of three men who was in a tractor-trailer rig that was pulled over after it passed a weigh station on Interstate 95 in Greenwich in July. The marijuana found in the rig has a street value of about $144,000, state police said. Diaz, of Covena, Calif., was traveling with Danny Turner, 49, and Robert Turner, 44. The Turners remain in custody in lieu of $350,000 bond. All three face charges ranging from intent to sell drugs to conspiracy.


Two Found Dead in Harford Basement

Hartford police are questioning a city man about the fatal shootings of two people who were killed inside a multi-family home over the weekend. The victims were found early Sunday morning in a basement apartment of a house on Rowe Avenue.  Police are questioning Santos Padua, 33, who lives in the home. Hartford has had 30 homicides so far this year.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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