New Haven Independent

Legal Writes | July 3, 2009

Motoryclists Hurt Cop

by Paul Bass | July 3, 2009 4:29 PM | Permalink

Officer Matthew Abate was trying to stop some motorcylists from breaking the law late Thursday night when one of them struck him with his hog, then skedaddled, police reported.

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Legal Writes | July 2, 2009

Pedestrian Struck

by Melissa Bailey | July 2, 2009 2:50 PM | Permalink

(Updated 3:59 p.m.) A pedestrian sustained a "severe head injury" when he was struck by a car this afternoon in the Dwight/Kensington neighborhood.

The crash took place at 1:21 p.m. at Edgewood Avenue and Kensington Street, police said. Unlike at a recent crash in Newhallville, the car's driver stayed at the scene. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital. He was conscious when he left, police said.

Officers William Coppola and Steven Manware (left to right in photo) of the police department's crash reconstruction team were on the scene for hours afterwards, as Edgewood Avenue was closed off to traffic between Kensington and Orchard.

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Legal Writes | July 1, 2009

3 Injured In Fair Haven Shootings

by Melissa Bailey | July 1, 2009 9:57 AM | Permalink

Three men were wounded overnight in two separate shootings in the Fair Haven neighborhood.

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Legal Writes | June 30, 2009

Firebirds, NAACP: Ricci Won't Stop Us

by Paul Bass | June 30, 2009 5:03 PM | Permalink

(Updated Tuesday 5:02 p.m.) The Supreme Court dealt them a blow, but they vow to fight on.

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Legal Writes | June 30, 2009

Man, 20, Shot

by Melissa Bailey | June 30, 2009 12:37 PM | Permalink

A 20-year-old man was grazed by a bullet outside a Newhallville housing complex Monday evening, police said.

The shooting took place at 6:42 p.m. outside Presidential Gardens at 573 Dixwell Ave. The victim told police that two men on bicycles opened fire at him in the driveway, then fled. One bullet grazed his forehead. The wound was not life threatening.

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Legal Writes | June 29, 2009

Despite Changed Testimony, Jury Votes "Guilty"

by allison schwartz | June 29, 2009 9:44 PM | Permalink

Waiting for the jury to enter the courtroom, Steeve LaFleur read from the Bible and awaited his fate. He had more than faith going for him -- one of the women he allegedly beat up had recanted her story on the stand.

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Legal Writes | June 29, 2009

Drowning Victim ID'd

by Melissa Bailey | June 29, 2009 4:28 PM | Permalink

Police have identified the man whose body was found in the New Haven Harbor Saturday afternoon.

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Legal Writes | June 29, 2009

"If You Work Hard You Can Succeed in America"

by Melissa Bailey | June 29, 2009 3:57 PM | Permalink

The New Haven 20 returned to the steps where they launched a landmark Supreme Court case -- to proclaim victory and "vindication" in a ruling that promises to change the course of civil rights law in the country.

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Legal Writes | June 29, 2009

On Page 25, A Hint

by Paul Bass | June 29, 2009 1:58 PM | Permalink

New Haven's moment in the Supreme Court spotlight may be just the start of a turning back of civil rights law aimed at advancing blacks and Hispanics in the workplace.

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Legal Writes | June 29, 2009

Supreme Court Overturns City On Ricci

by Paul Bass and Thomas MacMillan | June 29, 2009 10:06 AM | Permalink

(Updated 1:53 p.m.) New Haven has lost the firefighters promotion case -- and national civil rights law is being reinterpreted as a result.

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Legal Writes | June 26, 2009

On The Stand, The Story Changes

by allison schwartz | June 26, 2009 4:58 PM | Permalink

Wiping away tears, Steve LaFleur told a courtroom that he couldn't have pummeled a woman one night last August. He said he was somewhere else being jumped, stripped naked and beaten himself by a group of men.

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Legal Writes | June 26, 2009

Pedestrian Struck

by Melissa Bailey | June 26, 2009 11:44 AM | Permalink

A 16-year-old girl was hit by a car when she slipped in the street Thursday evening, police said.

The accident happened at Chapel Street and Winthrop Avenue at 9 p.m. Thursday. The girl spotted a family friend driving a car. When she went to say hello, she slipped in the street. A vehicle "injured her arm," police said. The girl was conscious and alert. Her injury is non-life threatening.

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Legal Writes | June 26, 2009

Tchakirides issues Theft Warning

by Paul Bass | June 26, 2009 9:07 AM | Permalink

After coming across a rash of thefts in his new district, Lt. Martin Tchakirides is putting out a message to New Haven car owners: Don't leave those laptops or purses in view.

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Legal Writes | June 25, 2009

Coke Intercepted

by Melissa Bailey | June 25, 2009 5:05 PM | Permalink

The city narcotics squad intercepted a package of $15,000 in cocaine that was mailed to New Haven from Puerto Rico, according to police.

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Legal Writes | June 25, 2009

Marshal On The Run

by Melissa Bailey | June 25, 2009 2:47 PM | Permalink

A state commission disciplined Charles Vingiano for refusing to serve a restraining order -- and took up a new complaint that he refused to protect a woman who feared she "could be killed that night."

Click on the play arrow to watch how Vingiano reacted to the news Thursday.

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Legal Writes | June 23, 2009

Reborn Narc Unit Reaps $170K

by Melissa Bailey | June 23, 2009 3:03 PM | Permalink

The newly reconstituted police narcotics unit is stepping up drug busts, bringing back baggies of what looks like hallucinogenic fudge -- and cash to send kids to the wax museum.

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Legal Writes | June 23, 2009

Man Charged With Shooting 8-Year-Old Girl

by Melissa Bailey | June 23, 2009 2:54 PM | Permalink

(Updated 7 p.m.) Police have arrested a man who they say opened fire at an afternoon barbecue in the Farnam Courts projects, hitting a little girl with a stray bullet.

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Legal Writes | June 23, 2009

Internal Affairs Chief Under Scrutiny

by Paul Bass | June 23, 2009 1:50 PM | Permalink

(Updated) The top cop responsible for investigating officer misconduct has herself become the focus of three separate allegations of losing her cool on the job.

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Legal Writes | June 22, 2009

Mom Grazed By Bullet

by Melissa Bailey | June 22, 2009 11:21 AM | Permalink

A 23-year-old mother was grazed by a bullet in her shoulder during a shooting in Newhallville Friday night. Three to four shots were fired at Shelton Avenue and Read Street at 8:52 p.m., police said. The woman's six-month-old son was nearby. Contrary to previous reports, police said the woman was not holding her baby when she was shot: the baby was across the street, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery.

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Legal Writes | June 19, 2009

Boy At Fault In Crash

by Melissa Bailey | June 19, 2009 11:11 AM | Permalink

The driver of a car that struck an 11-year-old boy in Fair Haven this week was not at fault, police have concluded.

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