New Haven Independent

Legal Writes | December 2, 2008

Shoot-Out At The Barber Shop

by Melissa Bailey | December 2, 2008 4:31 PM | Permalink

When an armed robber held up Dexter's Unisex Barber Shop, Wing Madness came to the rescue -- with firepower of its own.

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Legal Writes | November 26, 2008

Shooting Near School

by Staff | November 26, 2008 5:05 PM | Permalink

A school on Dixwell Avenue was in lock-down mode after a nearby shooting Wednesday morning.

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Legal Writes | November 25, 2008

BearCat Rolled Out For Arrest

by Melissa Bailey | November 25, 2008 7:29 PM | Permalink

A wanted man with a history of shooting at police was holed up in a house, refusing to come out. It was just the job for the city's new suped-up Hummer, the BearCat.

The incident started at noon Monday at the Farnam Court housing projects on Grand Avenue, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery. A man was wanted on three counts of narcotics charges and one of domestic violence. He wouldn't come out. Knowing his history of shooting at cops, police called in the DEA, the FBI and the city SWAT team. They also rolled out the BearCat, a bomb-proof assault vehicle that is equipped with loudspeakers. The vehicle can be used for negotiations.

After three and a half hours, the suspect, who's 20, came out and was put in handcuffs.

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Legal Writes | November 25, 2008

Narc Unit Ready To Roll

by Paul Bass | November 25, 2008 3:36 PM | Permalink

The reconstituted police narcotics division will hit the streets in January, and officers throughout the department may soon be losing their pant-leg stripes — maybe even their tattoos.

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Legal Writes | November 25, 2008

Narc Unit Ready To Roll

by Paul Bass | November 25, 2008 3:36 PM | Permalink

The reconstituted police narcotics division will hit the streets in January, and officers throughout the department may soon be losing their pant-leg stripes — maybe even their tattoos.

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Legal Writes | November 24, 2008

Halloween Returns

by Melissa Bailey | November 24, 2008 6:28 PM | Permalink

A victim was mugged this weekend by three armed men in Halloween masks, according to police. The incident happened at 7:38 p.m. Sunday in front of 608 George St. The muggers told the victim to get on the ground. The victim did, and was robbed of an iPod, cell phone and $128.

In other crime news, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery:

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Legal Writes | November 24, 2008

Extortion Plot Foiled

by Melissa Bailey | November 24, 2008 2:00 PM | Permalink

Armed with an incriminating photo, a band of blackmailers hustled $200,000 from a prominent New Haven attorney. They demanded more -- then Det. Robin Higgins and her "take-down team" stepped in.

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Legal Writes | November 23, 2008

Gun Arrests Made

by Staff | November 23, 2008 4:56 PM | Permalink

City Hall issued this press release about an incident that occurred 6 a.m. Saturday:

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Legal Writes | November 21, 2008

Two Shot In Armed Robbery

by Melissa Bailey | November 21, 2008 1:26 PM | Permalink

When two men went out to a store at midnight in Fair Haven, they ended up the victims of an armed robbery.

The victims were found suffering from gunshot wounds when police stopped their car at Blatchley Avenue and Chapel Street at about midnight, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery.

The driver, who's 20, told police that the two men went to a store at about midnight. They parked their car on Grand Avenue near Poplar Street. When they left the store, two men came up to them and demanded their money. The victims fled in their car. As they drove away, the robbers shot a spray of bullets at their car. One bullet hit the driver in the arm. Another hit the passenger in the head, giving him a life-threatening wound.

Both victims were treated at an area hospital. The driver was left in stable condition, while the passenger's condition was "critical," Avery said.

No word yet on possible suspects in the case.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the detective division at 946-6304.

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Legal Writes | November 21, 2008

City Reaches Settlement With Accused Detective

by Melissa Bailey | November 21, 2008 7:27 AM | Permalink

The city will allow a controversial detective to retire, though he faces criminal charges for allegedly misusing a national crime database.

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Legal Writes | November 20, 2008

Homicide Victim ID'd

by Melissa Bailey | November 20, 2008 3:58 PM | Permalink

Police have released the identity of a man who was found dead in the West River section of town Wednesday.

Hector Rosado, 53, of New Haven, was fatally shot in the lower back at about 9:06 p.m. Wednesday at Chapel and Hotchkiss Streets, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery.

Police found him lying face down in the street. They took him to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

He was the city's 21st homicide this year.

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Legal Writes | November 18, 2008

Alleged Rapist Caught

by Melissa Bailey | November 18, 2008 3:37 PM | Permalink

Police have arrested the man they believe is responsible for raping and beating unconscious a woman this weekend on Newhallville's Willis Street.

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Legal Writes | November 18, 2008

Two Arrested In Theft of Fantasy Of Lights

by Melissa Bailey | November 18, 2008 3:11 PM | Permalink

Police have arrested a Branford couple who allegedly jeopardized holiday cheer by stealing thousands of dollars of wire from the Fantasy of Lights display at Lighthouse Park.

The drive-through holiday light show is a benefit for Easter Seals. The non-profit group has seen an outpouring in support since $6,000 in wire was stolen from the display on Nov. 11.

After the theft, the suspects sold the wire to a New Haven scrap metal yard, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery. Cops sent out an alert to scrap metal yards. Staff were very cooperative at the yard that had bought the wire, Avery said. Cops got a good description, with photos, and put out wanted posters for the suspects. Tuesday at about 2 p.m., New Haven and Branford cops went to the couple's home, where they were were arrested.

For cracking the case, the department credited Officer David Murgo, Detective Matt Deleo and Det. Scott Branfuhr, an Independent Cop of the Week.

Undeterred, the show is set to open on Friday, through Dec. 31.

Legal Writes | November 17, 2008

Alleged Rapist Sought

by Paul Bass | November 17, 2008 5:26 PM | Permalink

Police are looking for a man accused of raping and beating unconscious a woman
this weekend on Newhallville's Willis Street.

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Legal Writes | November 17, 2008

Man Shot In Fair Haven

by Melissa Bailey | November 17, 2008 2:50 PM | Permalink

Police are investigating a weekend shooting in Fair Haven, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery.

On Sunday at about 7:22 p.m., a 30-year-old man was shot in the groin in Fair Haven. Police found him at Grafton Street and Clinton Avenue. He told police that had been walking along when a dark colored Dodge pulled up. Out jumped two men dressed all in black.

One pointed a gun at him and demanded his money, according to the victim. The victim told police he thought the gun was fake, so he told the muggers to "get it out of his face." Then one of the assailants punched him twice in the face and took his wallet.

The suspects fled in their car. The victim, who lives on Atwater Street, was treated at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Suspect Nabbed In Drive-By Shooting

Cops have arrested an 18-year-old boy in connection to a drive-by shooting on Grand Avenue on Friday. From inside a vehicle, the boy fired several shots at intended targets, police said. The bullets missed. The boy was arrested Saturday at his home without incident, police said.

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Legal Writes | November 17, 2008

Seen These Two?

by Melissa Bailey | November 17, 2008 10:15 AM | Permalink

Police have identified two suspects in the Nov. 11 theft of wire from the Fantasy of Lights display at Lighthouse Park. About $6,000 in wire was stolen from the park. The drive-through holiday lighting extravaganza is a benefit for Easter Seals.

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Legal Writes | November 17, 2008

Death On Rte. 34

by Paul Bass | November 17, 2008 9:54 AM | Permalink

State police are investigating a deadly one-vehicle crash that took place on the Route 34 Connector early Saturday.

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Legal Writes | November 14, 2008

Boy, 17, Shot In Head

by Melissa Bailey | November 14, 2008 12:36 PM | Permalink

A 17-year-old boy remains in critical condition after he was shot in the head Thursday evening, police said.

The boy was shot at about 8:12 p.m. in Newhallville at the corner of Dixwell Avenue and Willis Street, according to police spokesman Officer Joe Avery.

One bullet hit him in the back of the head and lodged in his skull. A second bullet grazed his eye. Four to five bullets were fired, a witness told police. Four to five men fled south on Dixwell, the witness said.

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Legal Writes | November 14, 2008

SCSU Student Reports Rape At Party House

by Melissa Bailey | November 14, 2008 12:01 PM | Permalink

(Updated: 1:55 p.m.) After a wild party with a stripper pole and beer pong at a Crown Street house, an 18-year-old student called police to report that she had been raped.

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Legal Writes | November 14, 2008

Knife Neglected; Cops Investigate

by Paul Bass | November 14, 2008 10:35 AM | Permalink

Police are investigating why an officer mishandled a potentially crucial piece of evidence -- a knife -- present at the scene of a potential homicide this week on a Dixwell streetcorner.

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