Connecticut, Fairfield County | featured news

STAMFORD — An allegedly emotionally disturbed man caused some alarm at Rogers International School on Monday morning, forcing administrators into a lockdown shortly after classes began.

Stamford police say someone noticed the man acting irrationally outside the school at about 9:30 a.m. and the person warned school officials, who immediately locked the school down.

Police were called and they found the man at the back of the school near a rear door. The man was not cooperative with the police and kept telling responding officers that he had been sent by God and was in search of souls.

HARTFORD - Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Monday proposed changes to the state budget that restores $4.3 billion in planned transportation projects, cancels proposed Metro-North fare hikes and service cuts and places electronic tolls on state highways.

The proposed adjustments to the current two-year state budget also wipes out the $200 personal property tax exemption, creates a new 25-cent deposit on wine and spirit bottles and eliminates education cost sharing for the 33 wealthiest communities.

HARTFORD - Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Monday proposed changes to the state budget that restores $4.3 billion in planned transportation projects, cancels proposed Metro-North fare hikes and service cuts and places electronic tolls on state highways.

The proposed adjustments to the current two-year state budget also wipes out the $200 personal property tax exemption, creates a new 25-cent deposit on wine and spirit bottles and eliminates education cost sharing for the 33 wealthiest communities.

STAMFORD — Police have identified the elderly Stamford woman struck by a car driven by a teenager Saturday afternoon as Benita Muralles, 69.

She continues to fight for her life while she remains in critical but stable condition in Stamford Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, according to Sgt. Andrew Gallagher, who has not spoken with her doctors.

“Based on our conversation with her family this morning, everyone appears to be hopeful that she will pull through,” Gallagher said.

STAMFORD --- A Stamford woman in her 70s was seriously injured Saturday after she was hit crossing the street.

Police said a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro hit the woman as she crossed Grove Street at Main Street around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. After the crash, the driver, a 17-year-old Stamford resident, stopped and stayed at the scene.

The woman is being treated for life-threatening injuries in the Intensive Care Unit at Stamford Hospital. Police are working with relatives to confirm the woman’s identity, but say she is around 70.

STAMFORD — According to Stamford Police, a vehicle crashed into an apartment building at 136 Ursula Place early Saturday morning around 3 a.m.

The vehicle hit the side of the building and caused a power outage in the complex.

No further information, including a suspect or any injuries, was available from police. The investigation is still ongoing.

tclark@stamfordadvocate.com

RIDGEFIELD — A group of residents and business owners, who teamed up last summer to promote the town, have decided to hire SandorMax marketing agency.

Wayne Addessi, who started the group, said the Newtown-based company will help it develop a website. The group was started last summer to advertise Ridgefield and has since collected nearly $50,000 in private donations and created a promotional video about the town, Addessi said at a Board of Selectmen meeting this week.

Addessi, who owns Addessi Jewelers on Main Street, said his goal is for the group to raise $100,000.

NEW FAIRFIELD — Board of Education members voted Thursday to add a second opportunity for public comment to their meetings.

Board members discussed the idea at a previous meeting, where they said a second public comment portion might let residents ask questions about board decisions or discussions instead of waiting until the next meeting to do so. The public comment portion now sits at the beginning of the meetings.

The second public comment portion will be added between “action items” and “board member comments,” which are typically the last items on the agenda.

NEW MILFORD — A Bethel man accused of breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s New Milford home last summer Friday pleaded guilty to a home invasion charge.

Mark Benoit was originally charged with home invasion, stalking, third-degree assault, burglary, and attempting to commit unlawful restrain after his June. 14 arrest.

The charges stem from when he appeared outside his ex-girlfriend’s home wearing a ski mask and carrying duct tape and a knife in June, according to court documents.

STAMFORD-A Norwalk man who supplied the crack cocaine that killed another Norwalk man last July was sentenced to four years in prison Friday.

Eric Frank, 29, of Freedman Place pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, sale of narcotics and assault on a police officer at the Stamford courthouse. The sentence handed down by Judge Gary White carries an eight year term of special parole, which can immediately put Frank back in jail for almost any violation of the law once he is released.