Connecticut
Local priest dies after crashing car into tree in West Hartford, police say
An 85-year-old priest has died after he crashed his car into a tree in West Hartford on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
Police received a report that a car went into the woods near Simsbury Road and Tumblebrook Lane around 2:41 p.m. The West Hartford Police Department responded, along with the West Hartford Fire Department and AMR medical personnel.
The driver, later identified as 85-year-old Terence Kristofak, of West Hartford, was the car’s only occupant. Firefighters extricated him from the car before he was taken to a hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries, police said. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Kristofak served as a Passionist priest at the Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, according to a Facebook post from the church.
“Father Terry had been visiting family and was on his way home at the time of the accident,” the church wrote. “We are filled with grief at the loss of such a kind, loving, and faithful friend. His presence touched the lives of so many, and his passing is a tremendous loss to our community.”
Simsbury Road was closed in both directions between King Edward Road and North Main Street while crews responded. The road has since reopened.
West Hartford police’s traffic division is investigating the crash.
The scene of the crash.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203 or submit an anonymous tip by calling 860-570-8969 or emailing whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov.
Connecticut
Father arrested after one-year-old found unresponsive in car
A father was arrested after leaving his one-year-old son in the car leading to the child’s death on Saturday.
At approximately 2:24 p.m., the East Windsor Police Department received a call for an unresponsive one-year-old child at Rockville Road.
The father stated that he left his son alone in the vehicle, and when he returned the child was blue and not breathing.
Emergency personnel responded to the scene and found the father performing CPR on his son. Crews continued to administer CPR upon arrival.
The child was transported to Connecticut Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The father was identified as Kevin Pell.
Pell was arrested and charged with risk of injury to a minor. He is being held on a $1 million bond.
Additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.
The investigation remains active.
Connecticut
Teenager arrested in connection to death of man found shot in car in Bridgeport
A teenager has been arrested in connection to the death of a man found shot inside of a car in Bridgeport earlier this summer.
Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls about gunfire and a man bleeding inside of a car on Catherine Street around 6:45 p.m. on July 27.
Responding officers said they found 18-year-old Leon Richardson in the driver’s seat of a Honda with a head wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said a 17-year-old male from Bridgeport turned himself into homicide detectives at police headquarters on Friday. He is facing charges including murder and carrying a pistol without a permit. He is scheduled to go before a judge in juvenile court on Monday.
Due to the murder charge, authorities said the case is expected to be transferred to adult court, where he will receive a bond.
Officers said the homicide happened midway between Washington Avenue and Harral Avenue on Catherine Street.
According to police, Catherine Street is two blocks from the Greene Homes public housing complex. Detectives said they believe the homicide is connected to the complex as the 17-year-old who was arrested is a former resident of the Greene Homes.
Richardson’s death marks the fifth homicide of the year in Bridgeport.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Thomas Harper at (203) 581-5239 or the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at (203) 576-TIPS.
Connecticut
FBI seizes 250,000 fentanyl-laced pills in New Haven drug bust
Federal authorities seized more than 250,000 fentanyl-laced pills in Connecticut as part of the FBI’s Operation Summer Heat initiative.
The FBI’s New Haven field office carried out the takedown alongside the Homeland Security Task Force, preventing the pills from reaching Connecticut streets, authorities said.
“Through Summer Heat, we are taking dangerous drugs off our streets, including the seizure of 23 kilograms of illegal pills, while working to disrupt violent criminal activity and protect our most vulnerable victims,” P.J. O’Brien, special agent in charge of FBI New Haven, wrote in a statement.
Authorities reported that 42% of pills tested for fentanyl contained a potentially lethal dose.
The operation was part of a broader law enforcement initiative aimed at disrupting violent criminal activity and drug trafficking.
“These results demonstrate the impact of strong law enforcement partnerships and our shared commitment to public safety,” O’Brien added.
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