Violence Outside Urban League Office
A 19-year-old man was stabbed in the neck outside of the Urban League of Greater Hartford office Wednesday morning. As of Wednesday noon, this story was still developing and more will be posted as it becomes available.
Ambulance Official Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teen Volunteer
Suspect in Attack of School Girl Arrested
Fairfield police arrested Eric Julian, who is accused of attacking a 16-year-old high school student while she was walking home from school. The man approached her, said he had a knife, forced her into a backyard and assaulted her, police said. The girl screamed and the attacker ran off, police said. Julian has a history of sexual assault, police said.
Something Stinks in Stratford
A groundskeeper at the Mill River Country Club is under arrest, accused of beating a skunk to death with a golf club. Kadeem Palmer, 19, was charged with cruelty to animals and released Tuesday on a promise to appear in court. The charges were filed after a woman complained that she saw Palmer at the golf course taking swings at the skunk. Police said they went to the course's maintenance shack and confronted Palmer, who they said admitted to killing the skunk. Read more here.
School Brawl Leads to More Security
More security guards are watching out at Harding High School in Bridgeport Wednesday after a brawl Tuesday, school administrators said. Officers arrested five students Tuesday after a big fight in a first-floor hallway. At least two of the students went to the hospital with minor injuries.
Convicted Sex Offender Accused of Striking Again
A Pennsylvania man is charged with beating and raping a woman in New Haven over the weekend. Robert Thompson, 49, was arrested at his temporary job in North Haven Tuesday. He is charged with first-degree sexual assault, kidnapping, assault and threatening. The woman said she was walking down Sherman Avenue Saturday when Thompson approached her, led her to a house, punched her in the face and sexually assaulted her, police said. The woman escaped when Thompson fell asleep, police said. A Robert Thompson from Philadelphia is on the Pennsylvania sex offender registry. He was convicted of rape in 1990.
Cable Caper Conclusion?
New Haven police have arrested two people accused of stealing copper power cables that left part of the Fantasy of Lights display in the dark. David John Tobey, 27, and Amy Folland, 30, were arrested in Branford, Tuesday. They are charged with larceny and conspiracy. Both are accused of stealing hundreds of feet of electrical cables that powered about a dozen displays that were being erected at Lighthouse Point Park. Easter Seals Goodwill Industries puts on the annual display as a fundraiser.
Purse Stolen in Violent Home Invasion
New Britain police are looking for two men who burst into an apartment with a gun, terrified three women and made off with a purse. Joan Suraski, 67, and two other women were robbed Monday night. Suraski said she heard the back door fly open and someone with a deep voice demand drugs. Suraski told the man they had no drugs and he pushed her down into the coffee table, police said. Police said one man hit one of the women with his gun, then grabbed the purse. Both then fled.
Firefighter Faces Arson Charges
A Terryville volunteer firefighter accused of arson is due in court Wednesday. Brett Fennessy, 22, is behind a number of arson cases dating back to March. Fennessy faces charges, including arson, trespassing and criminal mischief.
Child Porn Charges for Youth Minister
A Monroe youth minister accused on child porn charges appeared in court Wednesday. Police said they found sexually explicit pictures of a 15-year-old girl on David Esarey's computer. Police made the discovery at Stepney Baptist Church last month. Investigators also traced text messages back to him, police said. The church has removed Esarey from his youth ministry. His lawyer says he's not guilty. The judge ordered his case to be transferred to the Main Street courthouse for a Dec. 2 hearing.
Teen Sues School, Cops Over Strip Search
Shakimm Curry, 18, is suing the Montville police department and a school official. He said he was the victim of a strip search at a dance two years ago. He said he was a guest at the homecoming dance at Leonard J. Tyl Middle School in November 2006 and alleges Montville High School Assistant Principal Tatiana Patten and Montville police officers David Rowley and Greg Jacobson targeted him because he is black. The school official and two police officers falsely imprisoned him and intentionally inflicted emotional distress, he said. No drugs were found during the strip search but the three people involved continued to accuse him of selling drugs, he said.
