Police K9 Dog ‘Apollo’ To Retire After 10 Years of Service

The New Canaan Police Department’s K9 dog, a German Shepherd from Washington state who came here in 2015 to help apprehend suspects, find missing people and sniff out drugs, is set to retire, officials say. Apollo “was deployed numerous times” during his last full year of service, NCPD said in a press release, including one memorable instance where he helped officers find “an individual suffering from a mental episode.”

“This individual had jumped from the second floor of their residence and with the assistance of K9 Apollo and other emergency services the individual was located near a stream,” the press release said. “Recently, K9 Apollo was deployed to a neighboring town, where there was a possible suspect hiding inside someone’s residence while they were away. K9 Apollo successfully located the suspect hidden in the attic of the residence and was taken into custody on scene.”

Fed by local retailer Pet Pantry Warehouse and handled since last year by Officer Sebastian Obando, Apollo joined the department as an 18-month-old. He participated in community events and demonstrations until 2017, when his former handler went on extended medical leave and the animal entered specialized boarding.

DUI Charge for Man, 27

Police after midnight Friday arrested a 27-year-old Ridgefield man and charged him with driving under the influence. At about 12:40 a.m. on March 15, an officer stopped a car speeding on Old Stamford Road, according to a police report. During the stop, the officer smelled “the odor of intoxicants” coming from the car, the report said. After conducting field sobriety tests, police brought the misdemeanor DUI charge. The man was transported to police headquarters for booking.

New Canaan Woman, 62, Arrested for Illegal Discharge of a Firearm

Police on March 9 arrested a 62-year-old New Canaan woman and charged her with illegal discharge of a firearm. At about 11:49 p.m. on that Saturday, officers were dispatched to Turtle Back Road South on a report of a firearm being accidentally discharged, according to police. Arriving, officers spoke to the caller, the 62-year-old woman. Through an investigation, police concluded that a firearm legally registered to her had been accidentally discharged. No one was injured.

‘Everything and Anything Is To Be Expected’: Springtime Wildlife in New Canaan [Q&A]

With warmer weather finally arriving, New Canaan is seeing changes in the behavior of its wildlife, as well as the types of species that residents can expect to encounter with spring’s official start on Tuesday. We put some questions about the changes to Office Sean Godejohn, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section. Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: We’re getting some warm days this week. What kind of new wildlife should New Canaanites expect to start seeing?

Blackbird Restaurant on Elm Street ‘Opening Soon’

The new restaurant planned since last spring for Elm Street next to The Playhouse is close to opening, owners say. Blackbird, which owners say will offer a wide range of cuisine that patrons can share, is “opening soon,” according to its website. Promoted as “chic cocktails and bites in New Canaan,” the restaurant at 105 Elm St.—between the movie theatre and Solé, formerly home to Potpourri and, later, Fat Face—is “a sleek and sophisticated bar and restaurant in the heart of downtown New Canaan,” the website said. “Our moody ambiance is the perfect backdrop for your night out: dim lighting, share plates of inventive dishes for the table, and rounds of handcrafted cocktails— come for the buzz, stay for the vibes,” the site said. It’s owned by Z Hospitality Group, which owns Solé as well as Aurora in Rye, N.Y., EastEnd and Mediterraneo in Greenwich, and Terra, which has locations in Greenwich and Danbury.