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Wednesday, November 22, 2017

FINALLY

The broken links to the Hartford Police Daily Arrest log are once again working, It appears to have only taken 3 months or so to get it fixed. This is apparently a function of the Emergency Services and Telecommunications Department  to post the Police Department arrest Logs.

September 27, 2017 was the last time the reports were updated until today,

The logs can be viewed daily here http://www.hartford.gov/images/police/ArrestLogs/blotter.pdf

ARREST IN FATAL HIT AND RUN MAY HAVE FAMILY TIES TO HPD OFFICER


These details just came out tonight, although they were first reported a month ago by NBC Connecticut Troubleshooter Jill Konopka along with video she had obtained

HPD is just confirming those details now in this release tonight from HPD Deputy Chief Brian Foley.

On Saturday, September 16, 2017, at approximately 2:03am, Hartford Police Department Patrol officers responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Hudson Street and Park Street. Officers arrived on scene and began rendering aide to a female victim, later identified as Cynthia James, 58 of Hartford. Preliminary investigation revealed that a dark colored vehicle struck Ms. James and evaded the scene, traveling northbound on Hudson Street.

At approximately 2:54am, Ms. James succumbed to injuries suffered in the crash and was pronounced deceased at Hartford Hospital.

Video footage of the fatal accident was obtained from the city’s camera system as well as private systems by personnel from the Capitol City Command Center (C4). The video footage showed Ms. James walking eastbound on Park Street on the south sidewalk. Ms. James then walks eastbound across Hudson Street, in the marked crosswalk, under an illuminated “Do Not Walk” signal. Ms. James can be seen almost being struck by an SUV traveling southbound on Hudson Street as she crossed. Ms. James continues eastbound across Hudson Street when she is struck by a dark colored vehicle traveling northbound on Hudson Street. At the time of the crash, vehicles traveling on Hudson Street had a green traffic control signal. Additional video footage shows the suspect vehicle’s brake lights illuminate before the vehicle continues northbound on Hudson Street, evading the scene of the crash.

At 5am, the Office of the Hartford State’s Attorney was notified via phone of the fatal crash investigation. A crime scene was established in the area of Park Street and Hudson Street which was processed by Detectives from the Hartford Police Department Crime Scene Division. As the investigation progressed, additional video footage was recovered by C4 personnel showing the suspect vehicle. HPD had not yet been able to positively ID the car or develop a suspect.

At approximately 9:30am, an HPD Major Crimes Division supervisor was contacted by an off-duty Hartford Police Officer regarding the crash. The Officer notified the Sergeant that his half-brother, Nathen Negron, was the operator of the vehicle involved in the Park Street and Hudson Street fatal crash. The Sergeant worked to ascertain additional information pertinent to the investigation, including the whereabouts of Negron and the location of the involved vehicle.

Notifications were then made to HPD command personnel regarding the potential involvement of a family member of an HPD Officer. At 10:45am, the Sergeant advised investigators that Negron was at his parent’s home, located at 82 Harwich Street, Hartford, Connecticut. This information was relayed to Crime Scene Division Detectives who responded to 82 Harwich Street. At approximately 10:49 hours, HPD contacted the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office and advised them of the newly obtained information, including the fact that the suspect is a family member of a HPD Officer. HPD was advised to continue with the investigation.

HPD Detectives from the Crime Scene Division responded to 82 Harwich Street, the home of Negron’s parents. Negron met with Detectives there and agreed to be interviewed about the incident. The vehicle involved in the incident, a black 2015 Honda Civic (CT 316-ZER), then arrived at 82 Harwich Street driven by the registered owner, Shayla Bonner. Bonner was determined to have been the front seat passenger in the Honda Civic at the time of the crash. Bonner also agree to be interviewed by Detectives. The Honda Civic had visible damage consistent with having been involved in a crash involving a pedestrian. The vehicle was immediately seized as evidence and brought to the Hartford Police Department and held for further examination.

Both Negron and Bonner voluntarily came to the Hartford Police Department to be interviewed. Prior to the interview of Negron and Bonner, at 11:33am, the Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office was advised that Negron, Bonner and the vehicle had been located. They were advised that Negron and Bonner were traveling to the Hartford Police Department to be interviewed by HPD Detectives.

Both Negron and Bonner were interviewed by detectives and provided details of their involvement in the accident.

Investigation into the incident continued, including obtaining additional video evidence from within Matty D’s bar.

The HPD Officer, who contacted HPD about his half-brother’s involvement, was interviewed by Detectives from the Crime Scene Division regarding the incident.

Based on evidence and the Officer’s details about his involvement in the fatal motor vehicle accident aftermath, HPD initiated an internal administrative investigation. That Internal Affairs Division investigation is ongoing.

Based on the information obtained by Detectives, an arrest warrant application was submitted to Superior Court in Hartford and obtained on November 21, 2017, charging Negron with 53a-157b, False Statement, 14-222a, Negligent Homicide with a motor vehicle and 14-224(a), Evading Responsibility with Death with a $100,000 bond. On November 21, 2017 at 8:00pm Negron turned himself in to HPD detectives.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing and additional criminal charges may apply pending further inform


TWO MORE "STRANGER DANGER" INCIDENTS REPORTED TODAY INVOLVING HARTFORD SCHOOL STUDENTS


Two more incidents of suspicious behavior involving Hartford Public School female students heading home after school were reported to Police today. These incidents come on the heels of three other similar type incidents reported in the last week.

It is unclear  from HPD if there is any indication  that these complaints involving children are related. Both HPD and the Hartford Schools have been tight lipped  and only seem to be releasing  just enough information to avoid criticism. Although Hartford's Superintendent continuously talks about the safety of students being her number one priority, her actions seem to show a desire to protect the institution rather than protecting the Children.

From HPD Unusual Occurrence Reports:

INCIDENT 1 :  3:45pm
On 11/21/17 Hartford Police Officers responded to Hyland Park on the report of a suspicious person. An HPD Officer interviewed the Complainant who reported that she was approached by the below listed Suspect while she was in the area of White Street and Cheshire Street. The Complainant stated that the Suspect approached her on foot and began asking her a serious of questions that made her uncomfortable including; "Do you have a boyfriend?". The Suspect's actions scared the Complainant who ran to the day care at Hyland Park to seek help. A canvass for the Suspect was unsuccessful. SID was notified and is assuming the investigation

INCIDENT 2 : 4:54pm

 On 11/21/17 Hartford Police Officers responded to the Complainant's address on the report of a suspicious person. An HPD Officed interviewed the Complainant who reported that she was approached by the below listed Suspect on her way home from the bus stop. The Complainant stated that the Suspect made contact with her in the area of Franklin Avenue and South Street and yelled to her, multiple times, "Hey come here." This scared the Complainant who ran home and notified her mother. It should be noted that prior to the Suspect's approach the Complainant was being chased by a dog. This resulted in her appearing distressed and running. At this time the Suspect's intentions are not known. SID and C4 were notified and are currently investigating this 

No matter what the suspects intentions were, it is troubling that unknown male adults are approaching  female students walking home from school.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

CITY OF HARTFORD REACHES TENTATIVE CONTRACT TERMS WITH HPD UNION

After months of working without a contract and months of negotiations  with the Bronin Administration a tentative agreement has been reached between the HPD Union and the City of Hartford.  It's about time.

This tentative agreement comes after what many perceived as "Union busting" efforts by Bronin as soon as he took Office in an attempt to get union concessions to reduce his budget deficit.

In a text message sent earlier today by HPD Union Vice President Joseph Fargnoli he stated that "the Executive Board has  reached a tentative agreement with the City regarding our contract"

I haven't obtained specifics of the deal yet, but sources are telling me it involves no raises for 3 years and then 2% in the fourth and fifth year.It also involves an increased contribution for health care costs than one officer described to me as "maybe less than 30 dollars a week " out of his weekly pay.

An informational meeting will be held for HPD Union stewards on Monday November 27,2017 to have the agreement explained  so that they can take the information back to their membership for a Union vote on December 5, 2017.

The finalized agreement in principle is being completed at this time.

Friday, November 17, 2017

ONE, TWO, THREE STRIKES YOU'RE OUT

A Minor accident became a serious incident Wednesday, details below

On Wednesday morning , the Hartford Police Dispatch Center received a call for a minor motor vehicle accident in front of 26 Wethersfield Avenue. It eventually turned out to be anything but a minor incident and resulted in the arrest of a Hartford woman on numerous charges.

According to police , two vehicles were headed north on Wethersfield Avenue near Wyllys Street. One vehicle was driving properly in its designated lane. The second vehicle operated by Amber Williams, 29, of Shultas Place in Hartford, was apparently improperly travelling northbound in the left turn lane to bypass traffic. According to witnesses , Police, and video recordings, Williams quickly veered over to continue northbound in the travel lane, striking vehicle number one in the front end when she cut him off.

Sounds pretty basic, doesn't it?

Well it quickly took a turn for the bad when Williams exited her vehicle and approached the vehicle she had just cut off and struck. A verbal altercation ensued, at which point, according to Police and witnesses ( and the video), Williams returned to her vehicle and retrieved a baseball bat and proceeded to strike the vehicle she cut off, hitting the grill and front end area of the car.

The operator of the vehicle she was hitting with the bat , apparently then yelled to his wife "Get the gun ready".

The operator apparently felt as though he was being threatened by an erratic woman swinging a bat and hitting his car.. Williams apparently told the operator that "she was not afraid of him" and could  "handle her own". As it turns out, the operator's wife did have a gun in her possession, a 357 Magnum and she was licensed to carry it and that was confirmed by HPD. The use of deadly force most likely would have been justified if there was any attempt to turn the bat on the operator or his wife or child. Fortunately, Williams only struck the vehicle and not the operator , his wife, or their child in the car and didn't physically threaten them aside from swinging at the car

Before Police actually arrived, concerned citizens observed the commotion and intervened to diffuse the situation.

According to operator number one and witnesses, Williams was extremely irate after the accident , even though it was clear she caused it. Williams was reportedly yelling obscenities and calling operator number one a "cracker". Witnesses claimed Williams continued to act "crazy". Once Police arrived, that craziness continued.

The arriving officer asked Williams what had happened and reportedly she began to yell "he hit my car , he hit my car", even though the facts showed that she caused the accident. The officer then tried to get Williams to calm down , but that didn't work. The officer tried to explain to Williams that it was "just an accident". Williams reportedly yelled at the officer "I see how you do, you are already judging me". according to the HPD incident report, Williams then called the Officer a "racist". The Officer walked away from Williams and requested a Supervisor.

A Supervisor responded, Sgt. Eric Smith. When  Sgt.Smith attempted to talk to Williams, again according to the incident report, Williams walked away and said Smith was too intimidating and then stated to HPD Officer Cunningham that  " that Officer is the type of Officer that kills black People". Not that it has any bearing, but Sgt Smith is an African American Officer with over 20 years on the Department.

The sequence of events as reported was also verified by numerous witnesses as well as video recorded by HPD's Crime Center cameras which cover that area and showed Williams acting erratically and aggressively.

Williams was arrested for the incident and charged with Breach of Peace, Reckless Endangerment and Interfering With Police.

Luckily HPD handled the incident quickly and professionally, and avoided an incident that could have turned out much worse.

William's "Easton"  Aluminum bat was confiscated as evidence.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

SECOND CHANCE OR 131 ST CHANCE?



A home invasion in Hartford yesterday could have turned out much worse if not for a well prepared and calm thinking homeowner and a great response by the Hartford Police Department.

The details are outlined in the unusual Occurrence Report above.

Aside from the details of the crime, one of the most troubling aspects is that the criminal has over 130 arrests, and is still roaming Hartford's streets. What does it take for someone to get jail time in Hartford? I guess climbing through a window into an occupied residence armed with a knife is not enough.

Again a great response by HPD and a great apprehension by K9 Rosco.