Latest news with #BerlinPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The race to find a thief: Berlin police investigating after Torch Run signs were stolen
BERLIN, Conn. (WTNH) — Anticipation and excitement surround the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics each year in Berlin. Year after year, students line the route in front of their school to cheer on the officers. Annual Special Olympics Torch Run begins in Connecticut This year, there was also disappointment. The signs, which usually line Veterans Way, were stolen sometime between Monday when they were placed there, and Wednesday, when Mark DePinto, the officer who organizes Berlin's leg of the run, realized they were gone. 'He works very hard for this to come out perfect and that was like a setback to him,' Carmen DePinto, Mark's wife, said. It was too late to replace the signs before Thursday's torch run. The signs show the businesses and organizations which support the torch run and the Special Olympics. DePinto's daughter Christine is one of the athletes. On the day of the race, she rides in the truck which leads the police officers through town. 'She gets excited to be part of it every year,' DePinto said. 'She gets so excited she don't even want to go to her job.' 'It's just… it's hard to understand why somebody would pull those signs out and take them for a cause as good as the Special Olympics,' Berlin Deputy Police Chief Drew Gallupe said. Berlin police have launched a full investigation and say whoever is responsible will face larceny charges. 'We're reviewing video from surrounding businesses and we would ask anyone that has information or saw someone taking the signs or knows who took them if they would call us at the Berlin Police Department,' Gallupe said. Berlin police say there were about a half a dozen signs stolen from Veterans Way and because of that, those businesses and organizations didn't get the recognition they deserve for supporting this worthy cause. One of them was a local fire department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mass. firefighter arrested at work in connection with child sex abuse materials
A Massachusetts firefighter was arrested at work on Wednesday in connection with owning and sharing child sex abuse materials. Kyle Lichwell, 34, of Sterling, was charged with two counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of distributing material of a child in a sexual act. He was a full-time firefighter in the town of Berlin but officials said he is no longer employed by the town. The town said although the investigation was months long, it didn't know about the allegations until May 28. Lichwell was arrested at 7:30 p.m. the same day. The Berlin Police Department was notified with a tip by Massachusetts State Police Cyber Crime Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on April 11. The investigation led them to Lichwell. 'As Chief of Police, I'm very proud of how everyone worked together for a very successful conclusion in this matter,' Police Chief Sean Gaudette wrote in a press release. Scammer told her to withdraw $20K and stop talking to her family — so she did 'It's complete': Officials detail 'chilling sequence' prior to fatal shooting Mass. casino winner: Slots player bet $1.80 on jackpot spin Community Preservation Committee to hold informational meeting Westfield High School announces Bronze Tablet nominees for the Class of 2025 Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
CT man in critical condition following motorcycle crash in Berlin; police seeking witnesses
A motorcyclist is in critical condition following a crash in Berlin on Thursday. The crash was reported around 6 p.m. at the intersection of Farmington Avenue and Lower Lane and involved a motorcycle and another vehicle, according to Drew Gallupe, deputy chief of the Berlin Police Department. Gallupe said officers found that the motorcyclist, a 34-year-old Middletown man, was headed west on Farmington Avenue when he collided with a vehicle facing east that was waiting to turn left into the Stop & Shop driveway. The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries. Gallupe said Life Star was initially called to the scene and was later canceled. The victim was taken in an ambulance to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain. He was later flown on Life Star from New Britain to Hartford Hospital, where he remained in critical condition in the afternoon hours Friday, Gallupe said. The driver of the vehicle involved did not report any injuries. The Mid-State Accident Reconstruction Squad responded to the scene and is investigating the crash. Police are asking for the public's help finding the driver of a white Toyota RAV4 that was seen in the area and could possibly serve as a witness to the crash, according to Gallupe. The Toyota driver was seen pulling into the Stop & Shop driveway and stopping briefly before continuing into the supermarket's parking area, Gallupe said, adding that investigators would like to speak to any occupants of the vehicle. Police released a photo of the vehicle on Friday. Anyone with information is asked by police to call Officer Brendan Clark at 860-828-7080.
