New Haven Independent

Alert Issued On Van Driver

by Paul Bass | April 3, 2009 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

The following two email messages were distributed in Westville to alert people to a continuing problem: a stalker following kids in a white van.

First Message

Below is an email that I received this morning about the suspicious van that
has been in the neighborhood. It is an early 90’s white Dodge Caravan with
wood paneling on the side, CT License plate # 785TWY. He has been following
kids around the neighborhood and he has been doing this in the area for at
least 2 years. He has been seen in different vehicles over the years but
always the same license plate number. If you or your children have been
followed or are followed first call it into the police non emergency number,
946-6316, or 911 if it is an emergency. The case number is #17414. There
is information below on how to follow up with a detective once it is
reported. Chief Lewis is asking for any information about this case and
if anyone has ever been verbally or physically approached by this guy. This
case will be discussed further at the Community Management Team meeting on
Wednesday, April 8th at 6:30pm at the Valley Street Substation. Please read
below.

Appended Message

To all:

I apologize for the length between updates. It has taken a bit of time to
get the information together from the various sources. Since the beginning
of the week, I’ve have messages from the chief of police, assistant chief,
the head of the special investigations unit, the SIU detective now assigned
to the case, the officer who pulled the van over on Sunday, March 29th, and
various other witnesses to this stalker’s behavior.

This stalker is BAD NEWS. As far as I know, he is STILL AT LARGE. The fact
that police stopped him in his very recognizable car may have scared him
away for a little while, but if past behavior is any indication, HE’LL BE
BACK.

A great deal of information came from the officer who stopped the car on
Sunday. He did some investigating, going so far as to send the Derby Police
all of the emails that have been circulating. He (Officer Shapiro) also
contacted the stalker’s probation officer (yes, he’s on probation). NHPD
Officer Shapiro told me that the stalker was arrested in a nearby town, less
than 5 years ago, masturbating in a car in a crowded parking lot. He,
according to Officer Shapiro, the stalker plea bargained his way out of
having to register as a sex offender. But, the plea and probation came with
restrictions, none of which the officer felt at liberty to share with me.
Officer Shapiro told me the probation officer is looking at the emailed
evidence to determine if the stalker is in violation of his restrictions.

I realize a lot of you are looking at this, and seeing a lot more questions
than answers. I feel the same.

The block watch captain for West Rock Ave, Mary Faulkner, cc’d Chief Lewis
on an email she sent out. Chief Lewis is hoping to have his department
speak to anyone who’s had an actual contact (conversation, etc. ) with the
stalker. Direct contact doesn’t seem to be the stalker’s way. He just
likes to follow. I mentioned this in an email to Chief Lewis, and that
started a brief exchange that culminated in Chief Lewis promising to assign
a detective to the case. Assistant Chief Reichard sent me a message with
contact information for Detective Sgt. Martin Dadio (946-6993), who heads up
the Special Investigations Unit. I called Detective Dadio on Tuesday, and
again on Wednesday, and left VM. He called me on Wednesday to say he had
assigned a Detective Higgins to the case. I called Detective Higgins on
Thursday afternoon at 2pm. She assured me that the case folder was on her
desk, and that she was working on it. I discussed my conversations with
Officer Shapiro, and my own experience with the stalker - the chilling
realization that he turned his car around to get a closer look at my
13-year-old son - who I was with at the time. She told me she is not in the
office tomorrow, but would call me on Monday afternoon to discuss. She also
said that my two children (my daughter was followed by the stalker on March
8, with her friend) may need to come in and give a statement.

If you, or someone you know has had direct contact with the stalker, please
call the NHPD at 946-6316, mention the case #17414, and ask to speak with
Detective Higgins in the Special Investigations Unit. Document each
conversation, time, date, what was discussed. If you have been followed by
the stalker, please call the phone number above.

Please keep a watchful eye over your children, and be sure they travel in
groups, have safe places to go in an emergency, and if they carry cell
phones, be sure they know to call 911 or the main number for the NHPD,
946-6316.

I realize this is a lot to take in, but if we are vigilant, and not afraid
to act, we’ll be able to keep our young people safe. In the best case, this
man would be taken off the streets permanently. I wouldn’t want him
prowling around ANY neighborhood.

… I encourage
everyone to take an active role in asking the police about this dangerous
man. I realize they have a difficult, and often thankless, job. We can
work together with them to eliminate this threat to our safety. I will call
the NHPD regularly to see if there is any news.

Thank you

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Comments

Posted by: ParkStTaxPayer | April 4, 2009 4:49 PM

I think it's important to note that all citizens are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The numerous references to "the stalker" were provocative at the least. If this is an on-going situation, his parole officer should be doing random checks on his parolee, and residents who see suspicious behavior or a crime being committed should call the police.

I have mixed feelings about the reprinting of emails such as these, in the context of "news" because although it doesn't 'name' the suspected parolee, it does provide detailed information about the vehicle he drives.

I think the public would have been better served by a short "notice" saying, please be on the alert for suspicious vehicles, particularly those driving in a leisurely fashion, following children, etc. Labelling a private citizen as "the stalker" isn't treating him as innocent until proven guilty; it's assuming he's guilty, and the emails/article seems to be encouraging harassment of this individual based on past behavior only. If this person is a current threat to the public, he would not have been released from custody, right?

If you see a crime being committed or suspicious activity, call the police. But leave the fear-mongering to the republicans.

In West Rock Ave, the Threat Level has been elevated to Orange. You all now know what to do. That is all.

Posted by: jackie | April 5, 2009 1:56 PM

ParkStTaxPayer:

Have you ever advocated for "Community Policing"? Cuz this is it in action.

Posted by: JZ | April 5, 2009 10:05 PM

"If this person is a current threat to the public, he would not have been released from custody, right?"

How do you make that laughing smilie face emoticon?

I admit that I sometimes call myself a moderate to avoid being lumped in with liberals who parse words and try to control how private citizens react to criminals. Thank goodness the younger liberal generation seems to be falling away from political correctness.

Posted by: JMS | April 6, 2009 12:23 AM

Jackie,

You are right on... Community Policing is exactly what this is.

ParkStTaxPayer,

As the parent of a seven year old child living in the neighborhood in question I want as much damn information as I can get about this situation. I am very grateful to be armed with as many details as possible so I can best look out for my child and/or any of my neighbors. It's not fear mongering... it's nothing more then well intentioned concern for our fellow neighbors and their children. You might feel differently if you were a parent and this was happening in your neighborhood. And if do you happen to be one... better wise up. A little thing like a vehicle description or plate number could serve to provide a valuble margin of awareness or even enough warning to maybe even help prevent something dispicable or tragic from happening.

Some (Police verfied) pervert has been (repeatedly) spotted cruising a New Haven neighborhood following kids and you are bitching about harrassment, due process and slander or something? Really?

Wow.

JMS

Posted by: greg | April 6, 2009 9:02 AM

This neighborhood is mine. My son was robbed at loaded gunpoint by three fifteen yr olds Dec.06. We want to keep our neighborhood SAFE for all citizens, black,white,brown,asian or native american. I dont think being alert, aka blockwatch, is harassment at any level. It's taking care of our neighborhood, keeping it SAFE for all who live or visit here. Mr/Ms.ParkStTaxpayer, please come back to us! Have you ever heard of prevention ? You want to allow parolies a chance? me,too, as long as they stay out of trouble. We would be dialoging about something else if this guy didn't have a track record. If he isn't doing anything wrong, he can't get in trouble. Cruising around neighborhoods is not innocent behavior for these types of offenders. It is the start of a proven, researched, and continuous behavior pattern of individuals who, for whatever reason, are attracted to young children, and who need to be monitored for their own good and for the protection of all children. If I am correct, this guy has convictions in his history of offending, sexual behaviors.

Doesn t History repeat itself ? Lets keep the kids SAFE, WHATEVER IT TAKES LEGALLY.

Posted by: Cheri | April 6, 2009 4:10 PM

Is there a mug shot of this guy? Is there a description of him? Is it illegal to post photos of him? Or, at least get a photo out to the people in the neighborhood? If he changes vehicles, shouldn't there be a description of him? not just his van?

Posted by: JMS | April 6, 2009 5:11 PM

Cheri,

Not sure if it's legal to post photo's so I won't. We have cell phone photo's of the van and a plate number but (as far as I know) not a mug shot... but the police know who he is. I would also like to have a description in case he switches cars... or even better a mug shot. Hopefully we will have that soon.

JMS

Posted by: Whatsername | April 6, 2009 6:35 PM

Brown does not equal Hispanic (despite Obama's opinions, who I love, but it not right in this instance).

I am light-skinned and Hispanic. Please stop referring to Hispanics as "Brown" as we are not all brown and it perpetuates a stereotype that I deal with every day: "You're Hispanic? REALLY?"

I apologize, I know this is off-topics, but enough.

Posted by: greg | April 7, 2009 8:40 AM

re:whatsername,stay on the topic. this is about kids safety, as I said, all kids. this isnt about your perceived political correctness, for God's sake. If you have time to be politically correct, do you have time to assist the blockwatch? If any of our being vigilent helps a kid identified as "brown" out of trouble, are you still going to complain? Enough? Sorry to offend your political issue, but this isn't political, its about the safety of our kids, ALL OF THEM

Have a nice day!

Posted by: JMS | April 7, 2009 11:12 AM

Greg & Whatsername,

For what it's worth... I did not initially read Greg's "brown" comment as anything other then a simple expression of concern for all children regardless of race, background, etc. If Greg had written "black, white, purple, plaid, polka dotted and paisley" I would have read the comment exactly the same way. And trust me... I have plenty of sensitivity to this issue... my wife is "brown"... or NOT "brown" as the case may be.

Back on topic... no major updates as far as I have heard. But here is a generic stock photo of a early 90's white Dodge Caravan with wood side trim so people can see what this guys (current) car looks like.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lsyt_wQ2awY/SKmxslNZfHI/AAAAAAAAOTU/IlcYaO--5Gc/s400/Dodge-Caravan_1984_800x600_wallpaper_01.jpg

Again... this is not his actual vehicle. (The cell phone photo's are somewhat fuzzy so I just grabbed this image from Google) His van is white and has similar faux wood side trim on the body.

JMS

Posted by: parent | April 7, 2009 12:32 PM

Parkstreettaxpayer-

Following children around in your van and going so far as to circle around to get closer/a better look at someone pretty much fits my description of a stalker. Don't forget that the details are for the benefit of parents/adults who then need to pass the info on to their children. Am I alarmed for my personal safety? No. The warning you described as above would have been sufficient. But since kids are the ones who need to be extra cautious, the more details the better. My kids pretty much still think bad guys dress in black with black capes.

Alert Issued On Van Driver

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