I just can't figure out what the message is supposed to be that our Courts are sending to those accused of criminal activity.
On Sunday August 25, a contingent of Hartford Police officers were assigned to the Toby Keith Concert at the Comcast Theater. Two of those officers, Sergeant Edward Yergeau and Officer Holly Donahue were assigned to patrol the parking lots and enforce underage drinking laws and keep order.
They observed a few individuals drinking that didn't appear to be of legal age. They approached the individuals to check their ID's and as is many times the case with intoxicated unerage drinkers, they didn't exhibit the best behavior.
The incident turned into a melee and the two officers ended up rolling on the ground with the underage drinkers. The underage drinkers were scratching and clawing at the officers as others in the crowd jumped on the officers backs. Both officers sustained scratches cuts and abrasions while arresting the individuals
The individuals were eventually arrested and transported to HPD where they were booked .
Maya Kumar, 19 of Fairfield CT was charged with Inciting to Riot, Assault on Police, and Interfering with Police.. Joseph Muratori , 19 also of Fairfield was also charged with the same charges. Samantha Mc Daniel , 19 ofStartford Ct was charged with Public Drinking, Interfering with Police, and Possession of Alcohol by a minor.
Now the confusing part. All three were released by the Bail Commissioner from GA 14 on a Promise to Appear. I understand Bond is not supposed to be punitive, but they just assaulted Police Officers. They were back on the streets before the Officer's report was probably even written. And most likely still intoxicated. Maybe if they had to come up with even as little as $1000.00 bond to get their release, the incident might be taken a little more seriously in the future.
A WPTA doesn't show a lot of support for our law enforcement officers who had just been assaulted.
Hartford is a violent City. I don't think many people would argue with that. When it comes to the discussion of how we change, that is where the difficulty begins.
I have a suggestion. As I read the releases regarding Hartford's gun arrests one thing seems crystal clear. Most of the people being arrested in Hartford for illegal possession of guns have already been arrested at least once for the exact same thing. Somehow that tells me the courts and the judicial system are not doing their part.
The arrests are being made by the Shooting Task Force and other Police Officers, so law enforcement seems to be doing its part uncovering the weapons and the criminals. For whatever reasons the courts are not following through. I believe in second chances and the first time might be explainable, but after the first arrest, I think you are exhibiting that you are unable to conform to the laws that society has put in place.
I obtained an Unusual Occurrence Report (UOR) from the Hartford Police Department today that is very troubling to me. UOR's are generated by Hartford Police Supervisors as a management tool that helps inform supervisors of critical incidents. They are also used to release information to the media.
This UOR was regarding a gun arrest made by HPD on Tuesday night. HPD had received information that several individuals were in the City in a rental vehicle and were in the possession of guns and HPD Police uniforms. The information was that they intended to commit a robbery.
Hartford Police Detective Antuna observed the suspect vehicle in a parking lot at 884 Capitol Avenue. Detective Antuna, with the assistance of Patrol Officers stopped the vehicle and a loaded firearm, a Colt 45 revolver, a bb gun, a ski mask and an HPD Sergeant's uniform shirt and an HPD baseball cap were all found in the vehicle.
The most troubling part is yet to come though.
One of the persons arrested was identified as George Ortiz, of 847 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford. He was charged with Criminal Possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and weapons in a motor vehicle. Now the troubling part... as a footnote on the UOR it stated that Ortiz is currently on probation for Murder charges. WHAT?
Why is his probation not immediately revoked? Why is someone that is already on probation for murder and now roaming our streets in possession of HPD uniforms and a Colt 45 and a ski mask allowed to stay out. I have a hard time believing his intentions were honorable.
I would venture to guess that were either using the HPD Uniforms to gain access somewhere for a robbery, or more likely robbing drug dealers who probably arent' going to call 911 to report that their drugs and cash and weapons were just stolen by a Hartford cop.
The Judicial system needs to start doing their part and that is not a slap on the wrists and send them home. Serious sentences need to be handed out to those willing to carry and use illegal fireamrs on our streets. Especially a convicted murderer on probation
It seems that we always hear about absentee landlords and the slumlords that own many Hartford properties. But there are good landlords in our City that actually maintain their properties and do what responsible property owners are supposed to do.
One such landlord maintains several properties that he has owned for years in the Park Street area. He is a familiar sight to most people in the Seymour Street/ Park Street area. Most people would recognize Stanley Gutt as the guy that can be seen almost every day sweeping in front of his properties, picking up trash or painting and repairing his buildings.
In most circles, Stan would be referred to as a "senior citizen", although I think he probably wouldn't agree with that term. His energy level and his commitment to his properties is probably higher than many people half his age. I have had the privilege of knowing Stan for many years now since I moved back to Hartford and Stan is one of those people that still loves Hartford.
Sunday I think that love for Hartford might have been called into question.
I received a call Sunday morning asking if I could help Stan out with a problem. Apparently one of Stan's properties was the popular location for drug sales. Stan had one of our local drug dealers set up shop in front of his property at 161 Seymour Street. Gutt took the steps that a responsible landlord takes. He notified his Community Service Officer and apparently has a "standing complaint" with the police department.
A standing complaint gives the Police the authority to enforce loitering and other issues on the property without a complainant actually being present to make a complaint. The property at 161 Seymour is well lit at night and clearly posted for "no loitering".
Apparently last week Gutt got fed up with his neighborhood drug dealer that set up shop at 161 Seymour Street. Gutt's drug dealer isn't the only one on the street though, Seymour Street appears to have become a hot spot with numerous dealers doing the hand to hand transactions to the drive up customers all up and down the block.
Gutt's drug dealer , who is not a tenant of the building, had also parked a couple vehicles including a 4x4 off road vehicle in Gutt's parking lot. Gutt asked the dealer to get off his property and remove the vehicle's or else he would tow them off the lot. The drug dealer must have thought Gutt was bluffing, and last week Gutt had the vehicles removed at the drug dealers expense.
The dealer approached Gutt on Friday and said that he wanted to be reimbursed for the towing fees. Gutt refused.
Not surprisingly, on Friday night, Gutt had all 6 tires slashed on his box truck that he uses as his rolling workshop to maintain his properties. The windows in the first floor apartment at 161 Seymour that he was renovating were smashed with bricks and two large dogwood tress that Gutt had planted in front of the property were snapped off..
I know the pride Gutt takes in the appearance of his properties and when I spoke to him Sunday, the hurt clearly came through. We can't allow responsible landlords like Stan to question their commitment to Hartford because of thugs that think they run our neighborhoods.
Stan is out their again this week, cleaning and scrubbing his properties doing what he has done for years , contributing to Hartford's neighborhoods.
The drug dealer has apparently attracted much unwanted scrutiny from others that don't appreciate his business methods and is finding out the hard way that good usually has a way of winning out over evil. Gutt's CSO ( Community Service Officer) for the area, Officer Ghami Perez, is taking notice and working on the issue, the Shooting Task Force seems to be taking interest in the area and I am pretty confident it will not end there..
We need to drive out our slumlords, not the good guys that still love Hartford.
Hartford's Mayor Pedro Segarra today did something he should have been doing months ago, he terminated an incompetent Department head. After a couple days of planning, the head of Hartford's Department of Emergency Telecommunications Andrew Jaffee was shown the door this morning and walked out of 253 High Street..
It was a long time coming, but for whatever reason, Segarra sent someone packing who had been living off the taxpayers of Hartford for far too long. Jaffee's failures are well documented, just enter his name in the search bar above to read more about probably one of the most ineffective Department heads in Hartford's recent history.
Unfortunately , unlike an incompetent Finance Director or stumbling COO, Jaffee's incompetence could actually cost Hartford residents their lives. Recent examples of mishandled calls have been well documented, at least one resident who was eventually found in her home rotting and decomposing after a botched medical call was the first. The Linnmore street homicide was the latest.
We will never know if a proper response would have made a difference, but when Hartford residents dial 911, they should be confident in knowing that they are getting a professional timely response from one of Hartford's most important Departments. Whether a medical, police of fire call the 911 Center is the lifeline to all residents able to dial a phone.
Surprisingly, from a media standpoint the termination was also handled properly. Segarra has been criticized for isolating himself from any negative scrutiny or answering the tough questions. His media spokesperson is trying her hardest to manage the 'Segarra Message" but is failing miserably. Television reporters have now resorted to basically "ambushing " the Mayor when he heads to his car to get their questions answered.
I am not sure who orchestrated today's response, but it was textbook. A "media Availability" with the Mayor was called and Segarra stepped up to the microphone and laid out his explanation. He needed to restore confidence in the system and Hartford's residents deserved better. Done, no spin, move on.
I am not convinced that we are moving in the right direction yet, but it is a good start by Segarra. Lets see what happens with our COO and Finance Director, that will tell much more of the story. Is Jaffee the start of the remaking of the Segarra Administration or is it just an anomaly?
On 8/22/13, The Hartford Police Department (North District
CSOs, along with V&N Detectives) and representatives from L&I, the
Health Department, CT DEEP and the CT Tax Enforcement Division, conducted an
inspection of Willy's Deli (553 Albany Avenue) to ensure compliance with the
City municipal codes and State statutes. The inspection was planned in response
to HPD proactive enforcement action earlier in the week of a store employee
illegally selling liquor without a permit. Located inside Willy's Deli store
were numerous liquor bottles, beer bottles and loose cigarettes. Also located
inside the store was an ATM machine containing prescription pills, syringes, and
narcotics. The store was found to have numerous permit violations and was shut
down until further notice. Seized from the store was 206 liquor bottles, 410
cans/bottles of beer, 20 Oxycontin pills in a non-prescription pill bottle, 66
Feltrex Ampitrex pills, 43 Cialis pills, 6 Viagra pills, 3 unknown purple pills,
and $10,317.00 in US Currency.
The following parties were charged as follows:
Victor Estrella 43, of Hartford- Sale of Hypodermic Needles
& Syringes (CGS 21a-65), Illegally Supplying Drugs
(CGS21a-108), Possession of Narcotics (CGS 21a-279), Failure
to Keep Drugs in Original Container (CGS
21a-257) Sale or Possession with Intent to Sell Paraphernalia
(CGS 21a-267(b), Disposing of Liquor (CO
30-77).
Maximo Rodriguez 57, of Hartford- Sale of Hypodermic Needles
& Syringes (CGS 21a-65), Illegally Supplying
Drugs (CGS21a-108), Possession of Narcotics (CGS 21a-279),
Failure to Keep Drugs in Original Container
(CGS 21a-257) Sale or Possession with Intent to Sell
Paraphernalia (CGS 21a-267(b), Disposing of Liquor
(CO 30-77).
Willy Batista 23, of Hartford- Sale of Hypodermic Needles
& Syringes (CGS 21a-65), Illegally Supplying Drugs
(CGS21a-108), Possession of Narcotics (CGS 21a-279), Failure
to Keep Drugs in Original Container (CGS
21a-257) Sale or Possession with Intent to Sell Paraphernalia
(CGS 21a-267(b), Disposing of Liquor (CO
Sources are confirming that Hartford's Emergency Communication's Director Andrew Jaffee was just apparently terminated and escorted from the Hartford Public Safety Complex.
Speecifics as to any replacements or interim Director are not available yet.
I am not sure if I should be commending the Hartford Shooting Task Force and HPD for a job well done, or be more terrified of what is coming off our streets on a daily basis. For the last several days, after last weeks run of shootings and violence, it seems that the full court press has been put on to reduce violence in Hartford.
Although the STF has been out in the community, it seems like everyday now they are making some major hits in seizing guns, drugs and even large amounts of cash. For anyone that thinks that cutting police hours on the streets is a good idea , take a look at the firearms being taken out of our neighborhoods, and reconsider that...please.
After last weeks homicide on Evergreen Avenue, Hartford's STF produced the results of an ongoing investigation into firearms in the area. A search warrant was prepared for 33 Gray Street as a result of the investigation. Today the Hartford Police Emergency Response Team (ERT)and members of the STF entered the building to serve the warrant.
Upon entering the apartment ERT located wanted felon Warren Simpson was located in the apartment. Simpson was wanted in connection with a shooting that occurred on December 3, 2012 on Ashley Street in Hartford. The victim of the shooting was struck at least three times in the upper thighs Simpson has been eluding capture capture since the warrant was issued in March 2013.
The search of Simpson's apartment uncovered : one Smith and Wesson 357 Magnum loaded with 6 .357 Magnum hollow point bullets,40 .357 caliber rounds, $5785.00 dollars in cash,
120.4 grams of crack cocaine, scales and other equipment indicative of a drug factory were also found.
Simpson is being held on bonds totaling $1,250,00.00
Simpson is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history
Mayor Segarra has apparently told Channel 3 and Channel 30 that he is conducting an investigation into the operations of the Hartford 911 Dispatch Center.
Most of the complaints and issues coming to the surface lately involve the lack of respect and professionalism of the Department. As in any organization , that tone is set by the person at the top of the Organization. In this case Mayor Segarra, the buck needs to stop at your office.
Andrew Jaffee, the retired HPD Sergeant who is also the Dispatch Center Director is not one who has led by example. Since his appointment , he has not set a good example of professionalism, first and foremost by continually lying to the mayor as well as the people of Hartford. Jaffee is supposed to be a Hartford resident , as required by the City of Hartford Charter.
Jaffee still commutes to Hartford on a daily basis from his home in Suffield. He does maintain a phony residence at 30 Woodland Street, but I have yet to find his City of Hartford issued SUV parked there once yet at night.
In a Department that should have the highest level of integrity, shouldn't Mayor Segarra require that his Department head at least be able to tell the truth.
Everything else that is going wrong in that dispatch Center can quickly be fixed with proper leadership at the top and setting a strong tone of professionalism and integrity. That tone is not being set by Mr. Jaffee
Based on a continuing
investigation regarding the illegal activities at the Los Cubanitos Market (206
Park St.) Henry Depena was arrested again today after an arrest warrant was
obtained by the HPD Major Crimes Division. Investigators found significant
evidence that Depena was operating as a second hand dealer outside the scope of
Connecticut Pawn Shop laws. As a result, Depena was arrested and charged with
Operating as a Second hand Dealer without a License, sec. 21-47 (Class D
Felony). Depena was taken into custody by patrol without incident. He is being
held on a $25,000 bond.
What does it take to get a location like this shut down? This operation is negatively impacting the Quality of life in this neighborhood, attracting crime and drugs to the area
9 pounds of marijuana, 1,508 heroin packets, 3 handguns Seized by Hartford's Shooting task Force
Members of Hartford's Shooting Task Force have been conducting an investigation into firearm activity in the Parkville neighborhood. In response to that investigation, a "stash" location of firearms was identified as being stored in a local storage facility. A search warrant was obtained for the storage locker.
On Monday, August 19, 2013, the storage unit was searched. In the unit police found 2 ,9mm handguns and loaded clips, a 45mm Smith and Wesson and a loaded clip. 1,508 heroin packets marked "fear none" and 9 pounds of marijuana.
Imagine if the Task Force was fully funded like it was at this time last year what they would be finding. It seems like an effort well worth it with the dent it is putting in Hartford's illegal gun and drug operations
One of the most positive initiatives that has been implemented against violent crime in Hartford has been the Shooting Task Force. When they were at full strength last year, gun seizures and press releases regarding the STF seemed like an almost daily occurrence.
Due to various budget cuts the Task Force has been reduced from its original strength and several of the State level partners( Connecticut State Police and Chief States Attorney's Office) in the initiative have been cut back due to budget constraints and surrounding municipalities have also curtailed their efforts. Manchester Police, the CT Department of Corrections and Probation and Parole still maintain their commitment.
A major seizure by members of the Shooting Task Force and HPD's Traffic Division Sunday night is proof positive that the Task Force needs to be rebuilt to its strength level from last year.
All of the items pictured above were seized from a car on Hartford's streets. Last weeks violence is probably a good indicator that guns and drugs are moving pretty freely around Hartford. If our Governor and our Mayor are serious about reducing gun violence in Hartford, they need to make a serious commitment to programs such as the Shooting Task Force.
On Sunday night at about 7:41 PM members of the Shooting Task Force in cooperation with HPD's Traffic Division were conducting patrols in the Parkville area due to recent spikes in firearm violence and shots fired calls. Near 82 Chadwick Avenue a male suspect ran from a vehicle after he noticed Police Officers in the area. After a short foot chase, the suspect was apprehended on the 3rd floor rear porch at 82 Chadwick
Officers looking into the car noticed a large amount of heroin in plain sight on the center console. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded a large amount of heroin, crack cocaine, ecstasy, over $8,466.00 in US currency and two firearms. Both firearms had been stolen in burglaries.
Juan Maldonado, a convicted felon, was arrested and charged with various charges including carrying a pistol without a permit Criminal possession of a firearm, Theft of a firearm as well as numerous drug charges. He was held on a $750,000.00 bond
Yesterday at 4:06 PM I posted my thoughts on the jumping Segarra and his lack of leadership by refusing media requests for interviews regarding Hartford's recent shootings and homicides.
I was somewhat surprised when less than a half hour later, Mayor Segarra was in the car headed to the Public Safety Complex to grant an interview to Channel 3's Len Besthoff.
What changed mayor between 4:05 PM and 4:35PM, maybe a blog post?
I do have to say though , it is good seeing the Mayor getting his exercise, the caviar and rich foods could take its toll quick. Jump Pedro Jump.
After every homicide, Rev. Henry Brown conducts a vigil to console the families of the homicide victims. I support Henry and he definitely serves a purpose.
I think it is time we start holding vigils for the living. Our elected officials in Hartford need to be held accountable. I am calling for vigils on the front lawns of our elected officials ,Council President Shawn Wooden, Councilman Ken Kennedy, the chair of Public Safety on the Council, Councilman Kyle Anderson.
It is time to start drawing attention to Hartford's problems and make sure our elected officials are answering our questions. Showing up on their front lawns in their home turf might just make a difference as well as make them aware that accountability is coming. If they won't go to the homicide scenes and face the tough questions , we will come to them.
Please let me know your thoughts and if you would be willing to be involved.
Let's stop reacting and become proactive with our elected officials
The recordings below are the dispatch tapes from the Hartford Department of Emergency Services Dispatch Center regarding the shots fired call at 321 Linnmore Street in Hartford Monday night. Subsequently , after officers missed locating the body on Monday night, the second recordings are of the calls notifying dispatchers of the dead body in their yard.
Now I know that answering these phone calls and trying to pull information out of frantic callers is difficult, but is hanging up on the caller before you even obtain a correct address for a shooting the correct action? Listen to the original call and when the resident is reluctant to giver her name, the dispatcher hangs up on her. Also note that all the dispatcher had at that point was Linnmore Street, no specific address, nothing.
How do you not keep the caller on the line and gather as much information as possible, even an intersection or cross street to narrow it down. "OK,Bye"is not a suitable response. But I guess it was just a shooting .
I am fed up with police resources being stripped from my neighborhood, and other neighborhoods in the City to cover problem bars. I am fed up with the police coverage that is supposed to be assigned to my area being stripped to fill holes in other areas of the City.
Am I , as well as my neighbors, any less entitled to proper police coverage because other areas of the City don't know how to act properly.
Asylum Hill, my neighborhood, is pretty much a relatively quiet area crime wise. It does not happen just because of luck or good geographic's. It happens because we have the Asylum Hill walk beat as well as some good supervision in the area. The two Central District Lieutenants operate out of an office a half block away from me. They are accessible and approachable, not just for me but members of the community as well.
The major portion of the stability though is the tone set by the walk beat officer, who is actually on a bike. Loiterers know not to hang on the corners, Hartford High students know better than to loiter on Farmington Avenue when they are skipping class. And people going to the cell phone store to fence stolen items have learned that an officer on the bike is following their activity.
It is called quality of life enforcement, the things that destroy neighborhoods
My walk beat has not been on his walk beat all week. Monday he was pulled to fill a vacant cruiser, Car 30. Tuesday he was pulled to guard a prisoner at Hartford Hospital. Today he was pulled to fill in at Tele-serve, the front desk at HPD.
And trust me , the word spreads quick when he is not here, you can notice the difference. Should me and my neighbors have to deal with the instability caused because the City Councils commitment to us as residents seems not to be there. Lets start not filling the west end cruisers around the Council members home and see what the response is.
My walk beat officer also covers one of the City's latest hell holes of crime, South Marshall Street, home to one of our latest homicide victims who was stuffed in a bag and dumped in Suffield, numerous gun arrests including a sawed off shotgun, and a real hotbed for drug dealing.
Now I am being told our "Condition Units", which were sold to the neighborhoods as teams of Officers that would be focused on quality of life issues, are being permanently assigned to the Central Bar district every Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday night now. The North District Conditions Units are being assigned to North Main Street bars and clubs every Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday now also.
I guess that means that quality of life issues in the rest of the neighborhoods are only important one day a week.
It is wrong, the nuisances and problem locations need to be forced to be a part of the solution, instead of draining resources from the rest of the City. Many areas, such as my neighborhood have worked hard to reduce crime and build relationships with our officers to have safe streets. To risk that by shuffling them around is wrong
And while I am at it, I am usually very supportive of our Police Officers. I am growing increasingly troubled by those officers that are more focused on the "PJ's" or private duty jobs. There are numerous officers in competition to see who will hit $150,000 first for the year rather than focusing on their primary commitment to Public Safety in Hartford.
I want to know that Officer's are focused on their job 100% when they are in my neighborhood. I want to know that Officers are paying attention and not missing dead bodies shot in some one's yard because they are too lazy to get out of their car on a shooting call because they have already worked 5 or 6 PJ's for the week already.
I am not sure anyone could give their full effort to any employer after standing in the sun and 90 degree temperatures several days a week at a road ,job, and the Linnmore Street homicide and not seeing a dead body laying in a side yard is the perfect example.
Start the comments rolling, but there is no way to defend any of this other than to properly staff and fund the PD. Hartford will never turn around with headlines like we have seen this week.
Five shootings have taken place in the last three days in Hartford. Three of those shootings resulted in homicides.
Mayor Segarra's response , a press release and jumping jacks on the lawn of the Old Statehouse. Does he not understand leadership and the responsibilities that go along with that obligation to the people of Hartford?
A press release crafted by a secretary with the usual quotes "one shooting is too many" is hardly leader quality. Being unavailable for the media is even more cowardly. Mayor , you are the leader of this City, now tell us what you plan to do to deal with this violence. And not to be crude, but save the usual crap, we are tired of it.
And if that relationship with Governor Malloy is so wonderful, as you claim, why isn't the Shooting Task Force being revitalized? If you are really paying attention, I am sure you are aware that the one initiative that actually had a huge impact on gun violence last year has been decimated and is less than half of what it was last year.
I guess that is the Hartford way though, things that really work, we find a way to destroy
And I don't intend to leave the City Council out of this rant . Isn't it interesting how no one answers their phones when they know the tough questions are coming from the media. Those that spearheaded the budget cuts for HPD and are more than willing to go on camera to chase the low hanging fruit now won't pick up the phone to explain if reducing HPD spending for overtime was the brightest move.
Leadership isn't easy, but it might be nice to experience it for a change. At all of the recent shootings, the only politician I saw stop and speak to residents has been 7th District State Rep. Doug McCrory at Harrison Place. Where are all the Council members, still burying their heads in the sand? Or maybe just ashamed to face the questions and accept responsibility for their budget actions.
In the meantime Pedro, keep jumping, it is making a huge difference in improving our City
Here is Segarra's "Official" Statement:
STATEMENT
FROM MAYOR PEDRO E. SEGARRA AND HARTFORD POLICE CHIEF JAMES C.
ROVELLA
--- NEWS AND
COMMUNITY STATEMENT---
(August
15, 2013) In response to the recent increase in shootings and homicides
Mayor Segarra and Police Chief Rovella met this morning and released the
following statement:
“The
recent shootings have been tragic for the families and for our entire
community. One shooting is one too many. The Hartford Police Department will
immediately deploy additional officers in our neighborhoods and that presence
will continue for the foreseeable future. The safety of our residents is our
number one priority. We are working with our community partners and will use
every single resource necessary to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
The signs posted around the gravel lot for employee's at the Public Safety Complex on High Street are meant to warn "violaters" against trespassing on the lot.
I think they meant violators , with an "o", I guess the sign machine doesn't have spell check
FoxCT and Courant.com are reporting that the State of Connecticut has launched an investigation into possible cheating on test scores at Betance's Elementary School in Hartford.
I am sure it can't possibly be true because people's bonuses depend on these test scores.
On December 23, 2012, at 4:48 am, Hartford Police Officers
were dispatched to 114 Hillside Avenue on a 911 call for shots fired. On
arrival, patrol officers found an unresponsive victim with a gunshot wound to
the chest. The male victim, Jazzy Delgado, 21 of Hartford, was transported to
Hartford Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Homicide detectives from the
Major Crimes Division actively pursued the investigation.
On August 13, 2013 Major Crimes detectives obtained an arrest
warrant for Javier Melendez, age 20 of Hartford CT, charging him with Murder,
Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Reckless Endangerment 1st, and other
firearms related charges. On August 14, 2013, with the assistance of the CT
Department of Corrections and Parole, and the Manchester Police Dept. and the
HPD STF, Melendez was taken into custody in Manchester CT. without incident. He
is currently being held on a $1,000,000 bond.
In 2012, Hartford Police Department Major Crimes Detectives
began a review of a cold case into the homicide of Mr. Trevon Mauldin. Detective
Renee LaMark-Muir’s persistence paid off. On July 30, 2013, Major Crime’s
detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Marcus White, 32 charging him with
Murder sec. 53a-54a, having a $2,000,000 judge set bond. The HPD fugitive task
force arranged for Mr. White’s capture in Cottondale Florida where he is being
held, awaiting extradition proceedings. Below are the basic details of the
homicide, based on what has been reported to investigators:
At
11:00am on December 16, 2007, Mr. Mark Brown went to 151 Martin Street and asked
residents if they wanted their driveway shoveled (it had snowed heavily the
night before). Shortly thereafter, Brown walked back to his truck. Meanwhile,
Mr. Trevon Mauldin and a female were sitting in Mauldin’s truck, also parked in
the driveway of 151 Martin Street. The suspect, Marcus White exited his
apartment at 161 Martin Street and went to talk to Mauldin. Mauldin and White
then approached Brown. White put a gun to Brown’s head and demanded his money.
Mauldin stood in front of Brown. White and Mauldin then struggled with Brown.
White hit Brown on the head with the gun and Mauldin held Brown in a headlock.
White then fired two gunshots, hitting Mauldin in the chest. Mauldin was fatally
struck in the chest and fell to the ground. Brown was grazed on the head and
sustained a ruptured right eardrum. White again pointed the gun at Brown and
robbed him of $290. White was last seen running through the backyards and then
south on Garden Street.
Hartford's Internal Auditors are sure keeping busy these days and the latest Audit report has pointed out some huge problems.
I guess we should be getting used to this by now. The incompetence and mismanagement under the Segarra Administration is almost an everyday occurrence. But the sad part is many of the problems are pointing directly back to Julio Molleda, Segarra's Director of Finance.
The P-card problems and the scathing audit report...Molleda at the helm. The violation of all travel policies and reimbursements....Molleda at the helm. And now, the most recent report into Hartford's Payroll operations...Molleda at the helm. This is the Finance Director being paid well over one hundred thousand dollars a year ,and for what? It can't be for his management because there appears to be none.
And let's not forget the acting Chief Operating Officers explanation to the Audit Commission for the $30,000 in missing Credit Card Charges charges, they were found in a shoebox on a shelf in the Finance Department. Yes , you read that right, the City of Hartford maintains its Financial documents in a shoebox on a shelf according to Saundra Kee-Borges.
The report is posted below , but a couple key points. Over ten thousand dollars was apparently paid to one City employee by mistake. According to the report that money has not yet been recovered. The overpaid employee is not named in the report, but that would be interesting to find out who they are and if they are still employed by the City. According to the report, there have been numerous over payments on payroll, but apparently only one of the employees, a Hartford Police Officer, brought the overpayment to his supervisors attention
The most troubling finding that appears in the report is that apparently the City has not filed or forwarded to the State and Federal government the income tax and payroll deductions taken out of City employees checks for the last year and a half. Where has the money gone? And what will that eventually cost the City, hence us the taxpayers, in penalties and interest? It can't be cheap.
An interesting side note, I was told by one source this morning familiar with the federal filing requirements that the individuals required to handle the filings could be held responsible for the penalties and interest. Get out your checkbook Mr. Molleda, this could be interesting.
With the size of the payroll of the City of Hartford, for a year and a half worth of deductions, I would think it will be substantial. And where does that liability come from since we have already closed out the last fiscal year.
The parts about tax forms being mailed to City retirees that are deceased is just another indication of the incompetence. But I am not sure Segarra minds being the stuff that good jokes are made of. His administration becomes more and more of a joke everyday and he is the only one that can step up and change that.
The section below is direct out of Hartford's municipal code. The calls for service at 3340 Main Street seem to be exactly what this ordinance was passed for. Why not start enforcing it? It is definitely a matter of Public Safety
Sec. 29-17. - Public safety police detail for places of public amusement and extended hours business premises.
(a)
The city has experienced significant problems with security and illegal activity within and surrounding various businesses operating as places of public amusement, extended hours convenience stores and other businesses open between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. for several years including but not limited to problems with loitering, the illegal sale of narcotics, fighting and other physical altercations and other serious criminal activity.
(b)
This article is intended to aid in preventing crimes and nuisance, to secure for the citizens of and the visitors to the city the general welfare, public order, safety and peace, to protect employees of businesses such as those described herein and the consumer public at such businesses, and to establish security standards for such businesses that are uniform throughout the city.
(c)
The city now declares, in order to permit the development and implementation of reasonable controls that will effectively protect the public, businesses such as those described herein and their patrons, that this article be enacted.
(1)
The chief of police shall review all incident reports for property locations to which public safety personnel reported or were summoned or for which a complaint was filed with the police department for any loud, disturbing, illegal or violent conduct at any place of public amusement, extended hours convenience stores or any other business open between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. ("premises"). Such incident reports shall contain the name and address of the premises and the name of the permittee(s) or owner(s) in charge of the premises.
(2)
The chief of police shall review such incident reports together with any other reliable information available to him/her concerning the premises. After such review, the chief of police shall determine whether the public safety of the patrons, invitees, employees or the general public require the deployment of a police detail to the premises.
(3)
For purposes of determining whether to deploy a police detail, the chief of police shall consider, but not be limited to the following factors in making such a determination:
a.
The nature, scope, and seriousness of the incident(s);
b.
The occurrence of violence and whether physical injuries resulted;
c.
Historical information regarding the premises and the owner(s) or permittee(s) with respect to similar incidents;
d.
The level of cooperation or lack of cooperation from the owner(s) or permittee(s) of the premises in addressing or correcting incident(s); and
e.
The benefit to the public's safety of deploying a police detail to the premises.
(4)
In the event it is determined that a police detail is necessary for public safety purposes the permittee(s) or owner(s) in charge of the premises will upon notice be required to pay the cost to the city of each police detail officer, in a number determined by the chief of police, as well as any necessary expenses incurred by the police department for providing such services. Said police detail shall initially be required for no more than four (4) weeks. After said period, the chief of police shall review the situation and any new information available to him/her. The chief of police may revise the number of detail police officers required or may terminate the requirement for police detail. The chief of police shall continue this four-week review cycle until such time as he/she determines that a police detail is not necessary.
(5)
Prior to any determination by the chief of police of the necessity for a police detail, he or she shall notify the permittee(s) or owner(s), in charge of the premises, in writing, via in hand delivery or via certified mail mailed to the premises, and shall offer the permittee(s) or owner(s) an opportunity to present any evidence within ten (10) business days which he or she believes is relevant to the decision of whether to order a police detail.
(6)
Upon determination that a police detail is so ordered, failure of any permittee(s) or owner(s) to promptly pay in full for a police detail or to abide by the decision of the chief of police shall be forthwith punishable by way of police action temporarily closing the premises and subject the permittee(s) or owner(s) to additional costs, legal fees and interest. The chief of police shall also report such failure to pay for police detail or to comply with orders or directives of the chief of police to the division of licenses and inspections for immediate action pursuant to section 21-9 of this Code suspending or, as appropriate, terminating both the permit or license to operate, where applicable.
It is early, so this might just be the first one for the night, but apparently a woman walking into a corner store at Main and Nelson Streets was just pelted with bird shot apparently
fired form a shotgun. Does anyone else seem to notice that once again our shootings and violent crime seem to be rising again?
More on this when I have time to compose some thoughts.
I had thought that after Eddie Perez was convicted in his corruption trial the "We the People" blog " would die off. What could I possibly have to write about?
One local reporter corrected me and said that "Hartford was the gift that keeps on giving" I wish I didn't have so many girts being handed to me, but oh well.
The way the numbers look, I may quite possibly hit the million page view mark by the end of August.
Thank you to all readers for your continued support.
The two resolutions I posted about last night never made it out of Committee tonight at the Council's Operations Management Budget and Legislative Affairs Committee.
What is next, telling DPW what size engines they can put on lawnmowers?
I only wish that Mayor Segarra would start actually acting like a Mayor so we could get beyond this nonsense and actually start moving the City forward. The infighting serves no one well, especially not the people of Hartford.
This will make more sense after reading yesterdays post here
Apparently when I posted back in June about the violent crime occurring at the West Indian Social Club, I touched a nerve. Well below are the listing of the violent crime that has taken place within 500 feet of the club for the last 2 and a half years. It is a rather extensive list but be sure to look at the specifics for 3340 Main Street, that means the incidents actually happened on the grounds or in the club.
And as far as touching the nerves, apparently a couple of cowards afraid of confronting me, were unhappy with the posting and the comments. There was one comment that was questionable and as soon as it was brought to my attention, I removed it. Instead, the cowards were too busy going behind my back making calls and other nonsense to portray me as a racist.
Apparently there were "petitions" to be circulated and a lot of phone calls to be made. Luckily there are still a few people in Hartford with character and integrity that called me with their concerns and the information they were hearing. That is what adults with any integrity do. It is easy for a coward to jump on the "racism" bandwagon when they have nothing else to run with. But I am very proud of the accomplishments this blog has made to make Hartford a better place, no matter who or what race they are.
To me it is about right and wrong and not the color of someone's skin. I don't think the truth differs from one race to another. But again if you have nothing to fall back on, go ahead and play the race card.
Maybe it is because one of the cowards had a relative that was caught up and arrested during the Perez Grand Jury and needs some sort of vindication, so jump on the bandwagon. Or maybe another coward just had a family member whose Hummer was just towed again by HPD, the same as it was a couple years ago after it was posted here on the blog The vehicle was apparently towed again last Friday for operating unregistered, misuse of plates and no insurance. Here is more about the first time
Both my cell phone and e-mail are clearly posted on the blog, I encourage anyone who has an issue with my comments, feel free to contact me. No need to be cowardly.
I received the press release below from HPD this evening and after reading it I had to wonder how something like this happens?
FROM HPD:
On August 7, 2013 at 1100am Detectives from the Hartford
Police Department Vice & Narcotics Division executed a search warrant on the
Los Cubanitos Market at 206 Park Street. Entry was gained without incident. The
primary target and owner, Henry Depena, was detained. As a result Detectives
seized over $4000.00 in currency and a very large quantity of illegal
prescription drugs including Oxycodone, Suboxone and Viagra.
Depena, 46 of Hartford (6 previous arrests) was charged with
6 charges, including Possession of Narcotics with intent to sell and operating a
drug factory. Depena was held on a $200,000 bond. This is the 4th time in less
than 5 years that HPD has successfully conducted an operation on Depena’s market
for this type of activity. The market has also been the central location of over
150 police actions in the past 5 years.
Depena has a court date of 08/14/13.
This is the part that caught my attention:This is the 4th time in less than 5 years that HPD has successfully conducted an operation on Depena’s market for this type of activity. The market has also been the central location of over 150 police actions in the past 5 years.
The fourth time in less than five years, are the courts asleep? What does it take to get someone off the streets that is dumping poison onto our streets. And it is not just drugs also. I regularly get press releases outlining shootings and other crimes where both suspects and victims sometimes have 30, 40 or even 50 arrests. What does it take for the prosecutors and judges take these crimes seriously.
I recently had a regular reader of the blog e-mail me for help with an individual that was "running" South Marshall Street and tormenting some good people that live there The individual had been arrested recently for carrying a sawed off shotgun and was involved in several incidents. In one of the incidents he had a set of brass knuckles he was wearing. The brass knuckles also had a knife attached. During one of his assaults, he punched his victim in the eye, plunging the blade in and blinding the victim in one eye.
Does this seem like someone that should be on the streets of any neighborhood in Hartford? The Police did their job and arrested the man again. The people in the neighborhood were thrilled to get word that he was taken off the streets and being held on a $780,000.00 bond. They were as surprised as I was when he was released later in the day when a bondsman took his bond for only $19,000.00. Now bond is not supposed to be punitive, I get that, but $19,000 for what should have been $780.000?
Any bets on whether he will appear in Court without a Failure to Appear charge?
Four raids in five years is ridiculous, get him off our streets
New York State Police have purchased over 600 of the Chevy Tahoe PPV Police vehicle, aren't they good enough for Hartford? Councilman Kennedy apparently says no.
I have to wonder if anyone reads or pays attention to Hartford's Charter. It keeps becoming clearer and clearer that neither the Mayor or the Hartford City Council understand the theory of "checks and balances".
The Mayor, whether he acts like it or not, is the Chief Executive of the City of Hartford. He is supposed to be responsible for hiring and firing Department Heads. Day to day operations are his responsibility and the Department heads are intended to answer directly to the Mayor.
The Court of Common Council is the legislative arm of the City. They are not intended to micromanage day to day operations of any Department. We hope that the Mayor appoints professional department heads but the Council has no control over that , other than to exercise the power given to them under the Charter to hold a hearing into a Department head they feel is not performing and by a 6 vote majority, they could remove any Department head
Can you imagine any State Representative barking orders to the Commissioner of State Police as to what cars they can order?. No, they approve the budget and let the people you hire as experts do what they have the knowledge to do. They are legislative not executive....checks and balances
No where in the Charter does it give the council the right to define how money they budget is spent or to question the size of engines that the police Chief or the Department deem fit to order in in new cruisers.
The Hartford City Council can not and should not be allowed to dictate the day to day operations of any City Department not Fire, not DPW and definitely not Police, that is why we went to a strong Mayor form of Government, whether Mayor Segarra realizes it or not.
The ordering of new police vehicles is currently caught in a quagmire of bureaucracy created by a Mayor that doesn't know his place and apparently by a Council President that is not willing to put his Council members in their place. I have already spoke with the Council President so I know he will not be happy about my opinion, but none the less, he is in theory the leader of the Council and is responsible for maintaining control and seeing that the business of the people of Hartford is done effectively
Micromanaging the Police Department is neither productive or allowable.
If the Council feels that the operation of the Police Department is not effective, then follow the Charter and conduct hearings and remove the Police Chief. I would be sure to count the votes clearly on that one, because I would bet it wouldn't happen. It is time to knock of the hidden agendas and personality conflicts.
The issue regarding comp time and where it is allocated is purely in the purview of the Chief. He is there everyday and I would hope is well aware of where his coverage is needed. If the Council isn't going to properly fund the needs as the Chief sees fit, comp time is a necessity.
Saturday nights homicide on Union Place is a perfect example. Many of the Officers that staff extra activities such as those around the bars at closing, those keeping order in Keney Park and Colts Park on weekends are there strictly because of comptime. We know what happens when they aren't there, the stabbings and drug use in Keney Park died off real quick when the parks are staffed on weekends by officers on comptime, imagine if no one was keeping order there.
Two items on the Operation Management and Budget Committee are very troubling to me because it clearly shows that the Council is overstepping its bounds, and no one is reigning them in. A strong Mayor would clearly know his power and use the checks and balances to set the Council straight. A "strong Mayor" would send a clear message: The Police Chief answers to me, I assign him to run the Department, now back off and do your own job".
The sad part though is that much of Councilman Kennedy's information is inaccurate. As you can see from the video below, the Tahoe PPV's actually have been tested and proven to get better mileage than the previously used Ford Crown Victoria's and there are no Corvette engines in any HPD vehicles. 8cylinders yes, Corvette...no.
Many Departments, including the New York State Police have tested the Tahoe PPV and made the decision to purchase them. The New York State Police have purchased over 600 of the vehicles and I would bet they researched that choice to death before cutting the Purchase Order.
There are professionals that are paid very well to research these choices and act in the best interest of the City. I would like to know how many hours Councilman Kennedy has spent researching the vehicles or how many of GM's tutorial videos he has watched? Has he ever even ridden in the Tahoe PPV? And the Ford Taurus he mentions. You will find that most police departments are learning the hard way that by the time you put the "cage" between the front and back seat and all the equipment in the car, the Chevy is more accommodating , from what I have seen and been told
In the meantime, HPD's fleet of vehicles to be purchased July 1st have not even been ordered yet as the department is short of operating cruisers for patrol. Even more interesting is that the arguments over these cars even exists at all. The cars are not costing the City of Hartford one cent. Yes you read that right, the cars are being purchased through a Capitol Improvement Grant of $1.9 million dollars , not a penny of cost to the taxpayers of Hartford through the General Fund.
It seems like a no-brainer to me, cut the red tape, get the Mayor to define the roles and have the Council back off. In the meantime, HPD is being handcuffed by a resolution that has not even been voted on by the Council and doesn't seem to have much support with other Council members
As a footnote, you can tell a PPV Tahoe over an SSV (4WD) by
the rims, the PPV has black steel rims and the SSV has a silver colored steel
rim. The PPV also sits lower than an SSV Tahoe and a civilian Tahoe to minimize
a roll over in pursuit / code 3 situations. As Councilman Kennedy may not realize, the term
"pursuit" applies to all code 3 lights and siren emergency response,
not just "pursuit" as in a car chase .
Hartford obviously has code 3 response "pursuit" situations often. A
4WD SUV is not meant for pursuit situations as it is prone to roll over and
does not have brakes comparable to the PPV. The PPV Tahoe also comes with
"stabilitrack" which is a system GM has put in Tahoe's which helps
prevent a roll over if the circumstances exist. The Chevrolet Tahoe is the only
full framed pursuit rated SUV on the market. An SSV Tahoe is made for 4WD drive applications, such as off road use,
mud, sand, and obviously snow.There is an adequate amount of 4WD vehicles in
the HPD FLEET. A truly equipped fleet has both units,as HPD does. This
budget year HPD was including two SSV units. Older 4WD patrol expedition
supervisor units would be used as spares.
Planter or trash container? Front Entrance of Hartford High
"Welcome to Hartford High School" Front Entrance Ramp
Has anyone noticed the shrubs are overgrown by the weeds?
Lately I have been receiving a lot of calls from parents who have children in Hartford's Schools as well staff working at school buildings. The description of the conditions in some of the schools is just saddening. With all of the new schools the City has built, it just seems that there is no concept of actually maintaining the buildings and grounds.
Parents have described the appalling conditions at buildings such as Milner School on Vine Street. The bathrooms are apparently filthy and many students refuse to even use them. Broken glass litters the grounds and cause unsafe conditions for children.
I recently drove around to several school buildings to see for myself.
The attached photos of Hartford High School on Forrest Street make me wonder how to expect children to take pride in their schools when the adults who enter the buildings everyday seem not to. Many of the pictures are within feet of the main entrances and parking lots . Hartford High does not just have one principal, they have three.
I find it hard to believe not one of them has noticed that the weeds are taller than the shrubs. Not one of them has noticed that the "Hartford's Rising Star" planters adorning the front entrance have become trash receptacles rather than planters.
This sends a terrible message to both students and parents as to the education of children and how if we can't even take pride in the buildings, how can we actually think educators will take pride in the education of Hartford's Children.
Finally, in the picture below, Hartford High has been posted in the past week for towing for "trespass tows". I have to ask why and what was the process for selecting the vendor? Did it go out to bid and did they really have to select a West Hartford Company? Are there no predatory towers in Hartford willing to grab the cars of residents that happen to park on school grounds. Grounds that there taxes actually pay for.
Why should a resident that has their car towed for parking on school property on a weekend or any other time when school is not in session have to find a ride to West Hartford to get their car back. Plenty of tow companies operate out of Hartford. It is bad enough that the Board of Education would tow in the first place, but lets find a company that is actually local and pays taxes in Hartford.
THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS BLOG ARE STRICTLY THAT, MY OPINIONS.After getting fed up with the lack of openness in Hartford City Hall, I decided to begin a program on Hartford Public Access Television called "WE THE PEOPLE". Through tips received we have been able to expose numerous issues that the Perez Administration would prefer to keep quiet.
Any information received is kept in strict confidence, feel free to e-mail me at krbrookman@earthlink.net or call me at 860-883-2297 with any information.
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