Latest news with #WashingtonPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
CT teen with history of vehicle thefts accused of stealing credit cards, making fraudulent purchases
A teenager suspected in several vehicle thefts around Connecticut was arrested Tuesday and accused of stealing debit and credit cards from a vehicle in Washington in March before using them to allegedly make a number of fraudulent purchases. Jacek Gwiazda, 18, faces one count each of second-degree larceny and second-degree identity theft and four counts each of illegal use of a credit card and theft of a credit card, according to Connecticut State Police. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, an officer with the Washington Police Department, under the jurisdiction of state police, responded to a home on March 21 around 8 a.m. where a woman alleged that she was housesitting when someone in the overnight hours stole her purse from a locked vehicle. Inside the purse was about $70 and multiple debit and credit cards. The woman told police she had parked her vehicle in the driveway around 3 a.m. She did not notice the theft until she went for her morning walk and found her purse and some items that were inside scattered along Wheaton Road, she told police. The cash and the credit cards were missing. While speaking to the officer, the woman was receiving fraud alerts about her cards, the warrant affidavit said. They paused the interview to allow her to cancel them, which were reportedly being used in multiple towns. The stolen cards were reportedly used at multiple gas stations as well as WalMart, Target, Walgreens and Dollar Tree stores in Shelton, Derby, Ansonia and Seymour, the warrant affidavit said. More than $3,191 in fraudulent charges were racked up. Police found that there were no other thefts reported in the area, though multiple people near the New Milford town line reported seeing individuals wearing hoods trying to get into parked cars, according to the warrant affidavit. The individuals were seen on a doorbell camera arriving in an Audi SUV before checking the vehicles. The same individuals were believed to be involved in a stolen vehicle case in New Milford the previous night, the warrant affidavit said. Investigators were able to obtain video surveillance footage from multiple merchants where the stolen cards were used. They found a man in dark clothing with a hood, wearing a pink surgical mask, buying multiple Visa gift cards, the warrant affidavit said. Police found that the same individual was tied to other thefts reported in Newtown, Wilton, Monroe, Seymour, New Milford and Washington, according to the warrant affidavit. On March 31, state troopers responded to a home in Washington where a resident alleged that their Mazda had been stolen in the overnight hours, the warrant affidavit said. Three days later, the vehicle was recovered in Ansonia. It was towed and processed for evidence by investigators. One of the DNA swabs taken from inside the vehicle was turned over to the Waterbury Police Department, which uses a system that processes suspected single-source samples and generates a DNA profile in 90 minutes, according to the warrant affidavit. The DNA was compared against offenders in Connecticut whose DNA sample had been collected from previous felony convictions, though it did not produce a hit, the warrant affidavit said. It did, however, match DNA samples taken during criminal investigations in North Haven and West Haven, police wrote. In one of those cases, police found that Gwiazda had been charged, the warrant affidavit said. A sergeant from the West Haven Police Department informed the Washington officer that Gwiazda is a known vehicle thief who was allegedly tied to a stolen Mazda, according to the warrant affidavit. He was also allegedly involved in a in a run-in with law enforcement on March 26, the warrant affidavit said. In that case, members of the New Haven Police Department Criminal Intelligence Unit, Shooting Task Force and Regional Auto Theft Task Force tried stopping an Alfa Romeo that had been stolen in Southbury. The driver intentionally struck two unmarked cruisers during the getaway, the warrant affidavit said. During the incident, an investigator reported having a 'clear, unobstructed' view of the driver and identified him as Gwiazda, according to the warrant affidavit. Days after the incident, law enforcement officials conducted surveillance at a residence where Gwiazda was believed to be living. They allegedly spotted him multiple times trying to remove a license plate from a blue Mazda SUV that was parked in the driveway and had been reported stolen in Litchfield, the warrant affidavit said. He was also allegedly seen driving not far away to a stolen Volkswagen Atlas that was parked on Meadow Street, according to the warrant affidavit. Investigators allegedly witnessed Gwiazda take a license plate from the Atlas before leaving the area, the warrant affidavit said. Authorities later obtained a warrant charging Gwiazda with having the stolen Mazda and the Alfa Romeo, the latter of which was recovered in New Haven, according to the warrant affidavit. On April 2, investigators went to the home where Gwiazda had been residing and used a battering ram to get inside, the warrant affidavit said. They used a search and seizure warrant to search the residence, allegedly finding six different key fobs, two handguns and ammunition, according to the warrant affidavit. Gwiazda was arrested on a number of firearm charges. According to the warrant affidavit, his juvenile criminal history includes 'upwards of 10 arrests' for stolen vehicles. The officer investigating the credit card thefts in Washington was able to obtain video surveillance from the merchants where the stolen cards were used. A West Haven police sergeant involved in the stolen motor vehicle investigation was able to identify Gwiazda as the individual using the stolen cards, the warrant affidavit said. Gwiazda is being held on bonds totaling $190,000, according to the Connecticut Department of Correction. He is scheduled to face a judge in Derby Superior Court on June 26 in connection with the stolen credit card allegations. According to Judicial Branch records, Gwiazda has five pending cases in which he faces stolen vehicle, firearm, violation of probation and other charges.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Latino festival canceled by Iowa organizers out of fear of mass ICE deportations
Organizers in a small town in southeast Iowa canceled their annual Latino heritage festival out of fear of a possible mass deportation sting that could have potentially separated families. The Latino Festival of Washington is a celebration of Latino heritage that includes Hispanic food, music and dance performances, said Latinos for Washington president and co-founder Sonia Leyva. Leyva said the nonprofit organizers decided to cancel the event after people started to speak out about a possible ICE raid at the event. 'We've had a lot of people scared in our community,' Leyva said. 'So many things are changing that we've just decided that it's best to keep our community safe. We'd hate for an event that is supposed to bring our community together end up affecting them for the worse.' Washington is a town of about 7,200 people in southeast Iowa. Hispanics make up about 11% of the population, according to the 2023 American Community Survey. 'It's quite devastating, to tell you the truth, because this is an event that our entire community looks forward to every year, not just Latinos, but also non-Hispanic people,' Leyva said of the one-day celebration in August. 'It's a community event that brings our community and people from outside the community to come celebrate and enjoy that day together.' The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said there have been more than 30,00 deportations since President Donald Trump took office in January. Other communities across the country also have canceled plans over fears ICE will be there to arrest undocumented immigrants or be an intimidating presence. Chicago's annual Cinco de Mayo Parade was canceled, according to CBS News, as was Philadelphia's El Carnaval de Puebla, CNN reported. Leyva said it was best that organizers canceled the Iowa event to focus their energy on providing educational workshops and U.S. citizenship classes. Although people have voiced their concern with ICE raids, the community still feels comfortable with local law enforcement, said Leyva, referencing a news release from the Washington Police Department in February. In the news release, Chief Jim Lester said the department's top priority is the safety and well-being of every member of the Washington community, regardless of their status. 'The mission of the Washington Police Department is to encourage community partnerships to solve problems and improve public safety in a manner that is consistent, fair, impartial and transparent,' Lester said in the news release. 'Our police officers do not and will not stop individuals only to determine their residency status.' Although the community was disappointed about the festival, it's important to keep on going, focus on the positives and look forward to the festival next year, Leyva said. 'In life there's always going to be times of uncertainty, times of change, times where we wish things could be different,' Leyva said. 'We shouldn't focus on those who are spreading negativity. We must stick together, keep our heads up, move forward, and like we always say, 'Sí se puede.' We can get through this together.' José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@ or follow him on X @mendiola_news. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Latino Festival of Washington canceled over fears of ICE raid
CBS News
28-04-2025
- CBS News
Man injured after shooting near Washington County elementary school sends students inside
A man was injured after a shooting near an elementary school in Washington County on Monday. Authorities said students were on the playground at John F. Kennedy Catholic School in Washington around noon when shots rang out across the street. Police said the shooting happened while deputies with the Washington County Sheriff's Department were at the school with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. When they heard the gunfire, they got the kids to safety. "The sheriff's office actually had officers right here in the area, so they were here right away," Detective John Hritz with the Washington Police Department said. When law enforcement heard the shots, officials said the deputies ushered the students inside, moved students away from windows, and secured the building. They then responded to the scene, where they found a man who had been shot. "It seems like everything happened outside here, right on the street on the sidewalk," Hritz said. While the victim was being rushed to a local hospital, detectives got to work to try and piece together what happened. They interviewed witnesses, looked for surveillance footage in the area and collected evidence. "To have a shooting in the middle of the daylight in the middle of a neighborhood here is obviously out of the ordinary," Hritz said. When the city's mayor heard about the shooting and how close it was to the school, he rushed to the scene. While he condemned the shooter, he praised school officials and law enforcement for their quick action. "The school and the sheriff's office, with the way they worked to make sure the kids were safe, I've already got calls from residents saying they commend them for getting the kids off the playground, back into the school and making sure they were safe. I want all those parents of those students to know the staff and the sheriff's office did a phenomenal job taking care of your kids to make sure they weren't part of another scene," Mayor JoJo Burgess said. Police are asking anyone who has a surveillance video from their home to please reach out to police. It was not immediately known if police had a suspect.
USA Today
24-04-2025
- USA Today
'Doesn't get easier': Loved ones remember NC student months after killing
'Doesn't get easier': Loved ones remember NC student months after killing Sha'Mari Parker was excited to graduate from East Carolina University this year, move to another city and pursue one of two job offers extended to him. But the 20-year-old never got that chance. Remembered by loved ones as a cancer survivor, a "beautiful soul," and a hard worker, Parker was found shot to death in Washington, North Carolina in what police believe was an attempted robbery. Officers found Parker suffering from a gunshot wound on the evening of Jan. 7 after someone alerted police about a vehicle collision at an intersection in Beaufort County, about 38 miles north of New Bern. Parker was pronounced dead at the scene, Washington police said in a news release. Months later, one suspect is in custody while another remains at large. Zaydrian Starkie, 17, has been charged with murder and armed robbery, according to the Washington Police Department. Another teen, 16-year-old Quamir Razor, is wanted for murder and armed robbery charges, police confirmed to USA TODAY. Police: Suspects shot Parker, leading to crash Police believe the suspects were in the car with Parker, who was driving, a spokesperson from the Washington Police Department told USA TODAY on April 23. Officials think the suspects shot Parker, ran off, and that's when Parker's vehicle hit a pole. The gun Parker was shot with did not belong to him, authorities told USA TODAY. They declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. The District Attorney's Office for Prosecutorial District 2 in North Carolina declined to comment on April 23, also citing the ongoing investigation and North Carolina law prohibiting them from commenting. It was not immediately clear this week who was representing Starkie in court. 'I hope that's not my baby's car' Cortyne Woolard, Parker's mother, said her son worked as a stocker at Walmart, often working 10-hour shifts. He was studying construction management at East Carolina University. Woolard said her son had a gun the teens may have been after. He'd asked for one last Christmas. Uneasy around guns, his mother was hesitant, but got it for him anyway because he was a good kid. He was a "workaholic," so the day he died, he'd been resting before work. Later, his little sister had a feeling she should stay home with him, but she decided to go to a basketball game at Washington High School with her mom instead. Woolard texted her son and asked him to transfer her $5 since she only had cash and needed a card to pay for her basketball game ticket. He sent her the money, sent her a thumb's up, and that's the last she heard from him, she told USA TODAY. Not too long after, she and her daughter were watching the game when news of an incident involving a 2017 Ford Escape, just like her son's vehicle, began circulating. 'I hope it's not my baby's car,' Woolard recalled saying at the time. They went to the scene and spoke to an officer, who verified some information such as tattoos her son had. The officer eventually showed her a photo. 'I saw the blood on my son's arm,' she said. 'From there, it was just a blur.' Slain college student previously beat cancer Parker was the oldest of four children. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was just a child, his mother said. He was hospitalized and underwent radiation and chemo. He also underwent a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap, which would usually take a few days to recover from, his mother said. But by 2018, his cancer was in remission. While undergoing cancer treatment, Parker's bones were weakened, so he needed surgery on his ankle, his mom said. The day after surgery, he still wanted to go to class. 'He was so serious about his education,' his mother recalled. 'I drove him around for the rest of the semester. He said 'Ma, I can't miss this class.'' Suspect repeatedly called victim and asked for a ride Woolard said her son knew Starkie, who has been charged. She said he also knew of Razor, who is still at large. His mother looked at her son's laptop and saw that on Jan. 7, Starkie asked her son for a ride. Parker initially said he couldn't do it because he had work later. 'The little boy had been calling, calling, calling, texting,' she said, adding that her son likely agreed to give him a ride so he'd leave him alone. Police announced on Jan. 22 and Jan. 31 that a $5,000 reward had been offered for tips leading to Razor's arrest. According to Woolard, police don't think Razor is in the area anymore. 'I miss him every day' Parker's mother misses everything about her son, she said. She added that he didn't have a real childhood due to his cancer diagnosis and treatment. He didn't go many places or do much other than work, go to school, play video games and eat. He was known to ask her 'Ma, what you gon' cook?' she said, adding that he loved wings, steak, fries, oxtails and more. His girlfriend, Ayanni Bryant, said he was humble with a gentle spirit. The pair met in 9th grade, she told USA TODAY. 'He is my best friend and high school sweetheart,' she said. 'I miss him every day. The pain and his missing presence doesn't get easier or better. It's only easier to control the tears around people. He was truly a beautiful soul gone too soon.' Washington police ask that anyone with information in connection to Parker's death contact them at (252) 946-1444 or Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252) 974-6400. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russians to hold Immortal Regiment march with Soviet symbols in Washington
An initiative group of Russians in Washington plans to hold a march of the Immortal Regiment with Soviet symbols, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the end of the so-called Great Patriotic War [as Russia calls the phase of World War II when the Soviet Union was at war with Nazi Germany, from 1941 to 1945 – ed.], on 3 May. Source: Ukrinform news agency with reference to the organisers' booklet Details: The march is scheduled to begin at 15:30 local time in Lafayette Square, a park next to the White House. Participants will march down Pennsylvania Avenue to the World War II Memorial in downtown Washington, DC. The booklet, decorated with Soviet symbols and a St George's ribbon, states that the participants will "march with an orchestra, songs and portraits of their heroes". Booklet. Photo: Ukrinform A "small concert" is also planned near the memorial. Such events in the United States require prior permission from the city authorities. Ukrinform sources familiar with the preparations for the event say that the organisers have already received this permission. However, the Washington Police Department's press service has not yet commented on the journalists' request. Background: The Russians cancelled the Immortal Regiment march in 2024, usually held on Victory Day [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.]. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
