Police on Wednesday arrested a Seminary Street man and woman by warrant and charged each with risk of injury to a child.
At about 9:18 p.m. on April 15 (a Friday), New Canaan Police and firefighters were dispatched to an apartment on Seminary on a report of an active fire alarm that had been going off for about 20 minutes, officials said.
Smoke was emanating from the apartment and firefighters forced entry into it, finding that burnt food was the cause of the smoke and alarm, according to a police report. The residence was showing high levels of carbon dioxide and needed to be ventilated, the report said.
Officials found that a two-year-old child had been left unattended in a separate room during the active fire alarm and had not been cared for during the 20-minute period, the report said.
Police obtained a warrant for the man and woman, both 28.
At about 1:50 p.m. Wednesday, police took custody of the man at New Canaan High School, the report said. There, he resisted efforts by arresting officers to handcuff him and did not comply with verbal commands, it said. Ultimately, he was handcuffed and transported to headquarters for processing on the felony charge, it said. He additionally was charged with interfering with an officer. He was released on $55,000 bond and scheduled to appear May 11 in state Superior Court.
The woman turned herself at police headquarters at about 6 p.m. Wednesday. She was released on $50,000 bond and scheduled to appear May 11 in state Superior Court.
Why couldn’t the guy turn himself in at police headquarters? Cuffing him and walking him through the school did not seem necessary.
How do you know they didn’t give him that option?
Why do you assume he was given that option?
Because the woman turned herself in which indicates she was given the option
Actually, the woman went in to get a copy of the man’s police report and was, at that time, informed that she also had a warrant.
He was refused that option, and an option to go out the back door of the school.
Educate yourself on the charge! Police had a decision to make and they made it in the best interest of everyone. Don’t double guess a decision you will never make
Please note that this is from the police report. The individuals involved have a very different report of what actually happened.
I agree that this should never have been a case that required someone to be arrested–and handcuffed!!–at his work place in front of fellow staff and especially students. I can’t even think of another time I’ve heard about someone in this town being taken away from his job in such a manner. (Don’t we always read about people turning themselves in?) So I can’t help wondering if race played a role here. In fact, the police should have bent over backward to avoid the appearance of prejudice. It would be different if someone was a danger to the community, but this obviously was not the case, and nearly two weeks had passed since the alleged offense. This incident makes me angry but also embarrassed about how this reflects on our town.
Two young parents burnt food with their 2-yr old in the other room and they got arrested for it? I’ve burnt food and set off alarms. And don’t we all leave our children “unattended” at 9pm in their bedrooms? To arrest this man at his place of work in a school in front of children and colleagues seems nefarious when police know where he lives. If this is the whole story then there has been an incredible injustice. I hope charges will be dropped.
If the parents were home and responsive, why did the firefighters have to force entry into the apartment?
The NCPD should never come to a persons work or place, THE HIGH SCHOOL and arrest someone like this. In front of his students. This is disgusting. Time after time the NCPD has failed us.
This is exactly why The BOE should not allow police dogs in the high school. Civil liberties be damned. Not a good week for NCPD. This embarrassing arrest and one of their officers being arrested for storing illegal explosives.
At a time of unparalleled anxiety and depression levels among our youth/teenagers, based on a myriad of factors – COVID, social isolation, social media, political tension, etc, etc – how is there ever a scenario where it’s appropriate to arrest this gentleman at the high school in front of the kids? There are obviously missing pieces to this story and I hope that the legal issues are dealt with fairly and appropriately. But I also feel this was a very unfair position to put our high schoolers in. Not cool.
Crazy thought, why not hold your comments and opinions that have no facts in them and take a step away from the keyboard. The reports will he released and real facts will be known in time. Just a thought
Thank you Fred. Common sense. And yes, very little facts, as of now.
I have a lot of respect for our police department. They have a tough job.
I also have a lot of respect for the person that was arrested at school. I know him personally and have nothing but good things to say about him. He has had a positive impact on my children.
Hopefully this situation can be resolved soon.