Connecticut

Connecticut Mourning Loss Of Respected State Police Dog Drago

Published

3 months ago

July 5, 2024

Connecticut Mourning Loss Of Respected State Police Dog Drago

TOLLAND, CT — Connecticut Friday was mourning the loss of celebrated and respected state police dog Drago.

Drago worked with veteran trooper and handler Kyle Kaelberer while stationed out of Troop C in Tolland County. The black shepherd had a distinctive floppy ear, which made him very photogenic and popular with children at promotional events.

State police said he died on July 4 from “medical complications.” He had battled stomach ailments in the past.

Kaelberer and Drago were graduates of the Connecticut State Police 201st Patrol K-9 Class, as well as the 219th Narcotics Detection K-9 Class. They also served together as “highly respected” members of the State Police Tactical Unit, state police said.

“The Connecticut State Police regrets to announce the passing of K-9 Drago. During his career, Drago successfully located countless wanted suspects, missing persons, as well as a large quantity of illicit narcotics,” state police said. “K-9 Drago was a beloved member of Troop C, and made an immeasurable impact on the safety of the citizens of Tolland County, the State of Connecticut, and the Connecticut State Police as a whole.”

Drago certainly had his successes.

For example, just this past January, he and Kaelberer nabbed a suspect in a murder “intent” case out of Massachusetts. The Webster Police Department in Massachusetts contacted Connecticut State Police about a vehicle they had attempted to stop in their town that had eventually crashed at exit 53 on Interstate 395 in the town of Thompson in Connecticut.

The driver fled on foot after the crash, and Drago and Kaelberer were called in to assist. They began a track in a thickly wooded area and Drago located the suspect, who was taken into custody after a brief struggle, state police said. It was later determined that the suspect had not only engaged the Webster Police in a pursuit, but in a stolen vehicle.

The suspect also had a nationwide extraditable warrant for assault with intent to murder and numerous firearm charges out of Worcester, MA, police said.

In October 2023, a 50-year-old Iowa man who eluded authorities for about 12 hours after crashing a car on Interstate 84 in Tolland was eventually corralled by Drago.

The man was in a stolen 2010 Infinity EX35, traveling west on I-84, about a half mile shy of Exit 68. He suddenly lost control of the vehicle and slammed into the center median, according to a crash report. The car was bearing registration plates out of North Carolina, state police said.

The man fled the vehicle on foot after the crash and crossed the eastbound lanes of I-84 in the process, according to a crash report. State police then set up a perimeter in the area and police dog Drago was called in to track him. Drago located and detained him in a wooded area.

In August 2022, a driver told Kaelberer that “your dog is wrong,” after Drago altered him to the presence of drugs at a traffic stop on I-84 in Tolland.

Drago, of course, was not wrong and troopers located 14 grams of fentanyl and 1.5 grams of crack cocaine in a subsequent search, according to an arrest report.

In February 2021, Troop C received 911 calls about people attempting to steal vehicles in the area of Kozley Road and Williams Way in Tolland. The second caller had interrupted the burglary in his garage and the would-be thief pulled out a gun as he approached the group, according to an arrest report.

The man was able to get a description of the getaway car before the men fled the property, which wound up being a stolen Acura RDX out of Newington, according to an arrest report.

Kaelberer saw the Acura traveling south on Old Stafford Road in Tolland, and, as he and Drago turned around to follow the vehicle, which was traveling at a high rate of speed through the intersection of Old Stafford and Dunn Hill roads and then south onto Tolland Green, the car slammed head-on into another state police cruiser, which was headed north with its lights activated, according to a state police report.

Five people exited the Acura and then fled on foot, state police said. Kaelberer and Drago, chased the 19-year-old driver on foot, and he was apprehended by Drago and was arrested at the scene.

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Connecticut

Connecticut rehab center murder-suicide: Husband killed wife, then himself

Published

23 mins ago

October 4, 2024

Press Room

Connecticut rehab center murder-suicide: Husband killed wife, then himself

A man fatally shot his wife at a Connecticut rehabilitation facility before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide.

Barbara Brandt, 81, was shot in her room by her husband, Dennis Brandt, 82, according to the Cromwell Police Department.

“It is with great sadness to inform you that the husband of one of our residents at Apple Rehab Cromwell took the life of his wife and then his own this morning,” Michael Landi, Apple Rehab’s vice president of operations, said in a statement to Newsweek.

She had no roommate and no witnesses were present. Landi said staff immediately called 911, and no other residents or staff were injured or involved in the incident.

Barbara Brand lived in the facility as a resident for three years.

A man fatally shot his wife inside the Apple Rehab facility in Cromwell, Connecticut before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide.

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Landi said there were no known previous threats, and the motive remains unclear at this time.

“Our focus will remain on our staff and residents and we will be providing any and all resources and counseling services that they may need to get through this tragic event, many of which are already onsite,” Landi said.

Newsweek reached out to the Cromwell Police Department about the fatal shooting, which stated they had no further information.

KinderCare, located next to Apple Rehab, was on lockdown earlier this morning. However, they told Newsweek that the lockdown has been lifted, and police have left the area. They declined to comment further on the shooting.

Apple Rehab Cromwell

Apple Rehab Cromwell is a nursing facility located in Cromwell, Connecticut, offering a range of services, including short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and specialized therapy programs.

The facility is Medicare and Medicaid certified, with 85 licensed beds and an average occupancy rate of 73.41 percent. It provides progressive nursing and rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, catering to patients recovering from various conditions such as surgeries, cardiac events, or strokes.

The facility emphasizes patient-centered care, creating customized care plans for each resident, and offers amenities such as private rooms with flat-screen TVs, wireless internet, and fine dining. The rehabilitation gym is equipped with the latest therapeutic equipment.

In addition to medical care, the center provides comprehensive discharge planning, family education, and support groups.

According to the Violence Policy Center, nearly 1,200 Americans die in murder-suicides each year. A gun is involved in nine out of 10 murder-suicides. In nearly two-thirds of all murder-suicides, the shooter’s intimate partner is among the victims.

Cromwell, Connecticut

Cromwell, Connecticut, a suburban town in Middlesex County, is known for its blend of history and modern community life.

Covering approximately 15 square miles, Cromwell is located along the Connecticut River and near major highways. As of the 2020 census, the town has a population of about 13,000, offering a family-friendly environment with a mix of suburban and rural.

Cromwell maintains a low crime rate, contributing to its reputation as a safe community. The town typically reports fewer than five violent crimes annually, including incidents such as homicide, assault, and robbery.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com

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Connecticut

Motorcyclist seriously injured in crash in Thompson

Published

8 hours ago

October 4, 2024

Press Room

Motorcyclist seriously injured in crash in Thompson

A 30-year-old man has serious injuries after the motorcycle he was driving and a car collided in Thompson on Thursday night.

State police said a 20-year-old Southbury, Massachusetts woman was driving a Toyota Corolla and had gotten off Interstate 395 South at exit 50 when her car and a Harley-Davidson driven by a 30-year-old Thompson man collided at the intersection of I-395 and Thompson Hill Road at 10:17 p.m.

The motorcyclist had serious injuries and was taken to UMass Hospital, according to state police.

The driver of the Corolla declined medical attention at the scene, state police said.

State police are investigating the crash.

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