NewCanaanite.com (https://newcanaanite.com/category/new-canaan-news/new-canaan-police-fire)
Arrests and investigations out of the New Canaan Police Department as well as coverage of activity from New Canaan Fire Co. No. 1, including capital projects, staff promotions and work with community groups. We post tips and services from the New Canaan Fire Marshal as well as community events that involve police, fire and paramedics, such as the annaul Fishing Derby, talks at venues such as New Canaan Library and bulletins from officials in each organization.
Police on Sunday arrested two New Canaan women and charged them with disorderly conduct. At about 2:59 p.m. on Nov. 27, officers responded to a Summer Street home regarding a dispute between the women, 18 and 34. Following an investigation, each was charged with the misdemeanor offense. It isn’t clear what the dispute involved, whether it turned physical or whether the arrested people are related (they have the same surname).
A prominent local resident this month raised traffic safety concerns to members of New Canaan’s local on-street parking authority. Though parking currently is allowed on both sides of Hoyt Street, the vehicles on both sides of the road could make it difficult for a large emergency response vehicle to get to residents in need, according to longtime New Canaanite Christine Hussey. “People are parking on both sides, and if you are having a heart attack or a stroke or if you’re having a baby, and you need the ambulance—God forbid you need a firetruck—there is no way that vehicle is going to be able to pass,” Hussey told the Police Commission at its Nov. 16 meeting, held at New Canaan Police Department headquarters and via videoconference. “And I’m saying I think it would be very wise and prudent of us to allow parking on one side, maybe as you are going up to Main, on the right side, because if they park on the left side, they park right on the curb, and that makes it difficult if you are coming from East Avenue and it’s a big car and you’re not in a big car, you come around there’s someone coming right at you,” she said.
The town last week approved contracts to install two light posts with security cameras in the front parking lot at Irwin Park. New Canaan has “had some criminal incidents there, one recently about a month ago and some residents had expressed concern,” according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. “And that is in line with the folks that come in from out-of-state and commit crimes in our parks,” Krolikowski told the Board of Selectmen at its Nov. 15 meeting, held in Town Hall and via videoconference. “So certainly installing these light posts will help and also we intend to install cameras within the light posts.”
Selectman Nick Williams said he appreciated the thoughtfulness that the New Canaan Police Department had put into its request for the light posts at Irwin “because I think we want to get it right.”
“You guys have done a great job,” Williams said.
New Canaan Police are seeing a steep rise this year in the number of reported violations of motorists passing stopped school buses. Police received 31 reports of school bus violations in October, compared to just four in the year-ago month, Chief Leon Krolikowski reported at the Nov. 16 meeting of the Police Commission. Through the first 10 months of 2022, police received 101 school bus violation reports, compared to 39 in the same period last year, according to the chief.
“We have seen a huge increase in violations and in fact we are working with the [school district’s] transportation coordinator and the bus drivers to try to get them the information they need,” Krolikowski said during the Commission’s regular meeting, held at police headquarters.
“Because sometimes incidents are reported but they can’t be enforced, because they don’t meet the criteria of the statute,” he said. Krolikowski added, “This is largely bus drivers reporting violations with the cameras on the buses.
Police on Friday night arrested a 41-year-old Fairfield man and charged him with second-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree breach of peace. At about 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 18, officers responded to the area of Summer Street on a report of a domestic dispute between the man and another occupant of his vehicle, police said. Following an investigation, police brought the two misdemeanor charges, according to a police report. Under state law, a person is guilty of second-degree breach of peace if he or she “with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person: (1) Engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior in a public place; or (2) assaults or strikes another; or (3) threatens to commit any crime against another person or such other person’s property; or (4) publicly exhibits, distributes, posts up or advertises any offensive, indecent or abusive matter concerning any person; or (5) in a public place, uses abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture,” among other reasons.