IN OUR TOWNS (original) (raw)

WHAT’S BREAKING

Head Injuries Killed Racer

STAFFORD – A 21-year-old motocross rider fatally injured in a crash during a practice run at Stafford Motor Speedway Saturday afternoon died of head injuries, the Office of the State Medical Examiner said Wednesday.

The crash that killed Anthony Hart remains under investigation, Trooper William Tate, a state police spokesman, said Wednesday.

Hart, of Henderson, Nev., lost control of his motorcycle during practice and hit an outer track barricade at the speedway at about 3:30 p.m., state police said. He was flown to Hartford Hospital, where he died later Saturday.

Hart, known as Tony, was the brother of freestyle motocross and reality television star Carey Hart. Carey Hart is the former husband of Grammy-winning pop star Pink.

Track officials said Tony Hart was practicing for the Doug Henry New England Supermoto Grand Prix when the crash occurred. The event was sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, part of the AMA XTRM Supermoto Championship series.

Death Was Natural Causes

ENFIELD – A 51-year-old man whose body was found by a real estate agent inside his house, which was for sale, died of natural causes, Deputy Police Chief Anjo Timmerman said Wednesday.

Lawrence Meade’s body was found the afternoon of Aug. 6 inside his home at 20 Play Road when the real estate agent looked inside, police said.

Based on the condition of Meade’s body, it as apparent that he had been dead for a while, police have said.

The Office of the State Medical Examiner in Farmington said Wednesday the primary cause of Meade’s death was cardiovascular disease.

Man Arrested After Fight

SUFFIELD – A 35-year-old man who allegedly broke into his cousin’s apartment Tuesday night, fought with the residents and hit his cousin’s dog was arrested on several charges, police said.

Daniel Smyth, of East Lyme, tried to leave when he heard police had been called, but was blocked in by officers arriving at the scene. He was being held at Hartford Correctional Center with bail set at $50,000 after his arraignment Wednesday in Superior Court in Enfield.

Smyth was charged with first-degree burglary, third-degree assault, criminal attempt to commit third-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace and cruelty to animals, police said.

Police said Smyth broke into the apartment on North Street around 11:05 p.m., intending to beat up his cousin’s boyfriend. A struggle ensued between Smyth, his cousin, the boyfriend and the boyfriend’s brother, police said. Smyth also struck his cousin’s small dog several times, police said.

Smyth is scheduled to appear in court again on Sept. 11.

Charged In Sex Assault

ROCKY HILL – Police have arrested a former town resident in connection with a 2006 rape involving a 15-year-old girl on Cold Spring Road.

George M. Vann, 27, of 48 Homeside Ave., New Haven, who fled Rocky Hill after the alleged crime, was arrested by police in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey last week on separate prostitution, assault and drug charges, police said.

Once in custody in Egg Harbor Township, police there learned he was a fugitive of justice. Vann waived extradition and was voluntarily returned to Connecticut where he faces charges of first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, police said.

Police first learned of the alleged rape that took place in a home at 500 Cold Spring Road in 2006 through the state Department of Children and Families office in New Haven. The case went cold after the victim left the school she was attending and could not be located. In January, Rocky Hill detectives found the girl and she identified Vann as her alleged attacker. Police then obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Burglary String Investigated

COLCHESTER – A string of residential and commercial burglaries in Bozrah, Columbia, Lebanon, Marlborough, and Windham is under investigation by detectives from the Eastern District Major Crime Unit.

Anyone with information is asked to call the state police Troop K barracks at 1-800-546-5005, or to text tips to 274637, with TIP711 before the message.

People who are leaving on vacations should close windows and doors, leave lights on timers, stop delivery of mail and newspapers, store valuable jewelry in a safe place and keep a record of the serial numbers of valuable electronics, police said.

Peace Vigil Scheduled

HARTFORD – Mothers United Against Violence will hold a peace vigil today, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Burger/Pizza Land Plaza on Barbour Street. The plaza is the location where two men were shot and wounded on Sunday.

For more information, call 860-538-5890.

Prison In Heroin Case

HARTFORD – A Hartford man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for his role in distributing heroin in the city.

Arcadio Santiago, 58, of West Boulevard, was also sentenced to six years’ probation by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson.

Santiago pleaded guilty in May to conspiring with other individuals to possess with the intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. Investigators used a court authorized wiretap and intercepted calls between Santiago and a wholesale distributor of heroin in Hartford. During the calls Santiago ordered quantities of heroin from the distributor and explained that he was going to resell the drug to other individuals.

Charged Anew In Abuse Case

MIDDLETOWN – A woman charged in February with risk of injury, stemming from a sexual abuse investigation, has been arrested again, this time on charges she violated a protective order issued in the first case.

Debra Dailey, 46, of 142 Pokoney Road, Haddam, was arraigned on the two counts of violating a protective order in Superior Court in Middletown Aug. 12 and is being held with bail set at $500,000. The protective order has been sealed, and it was not clear who it was against.

According to a request for a bail increase in the case, Dailey was released from custody Aug. 9 and immediately went to the residence of two of the four people she is not supposed to have contact with.

Dailey was charged in February with not preventing or reporting alleged sexual assault by her husband, Leonard Dailey, 46, of the same address. The charges stem from sexual assault complaints by two female victims. Debra Dailey pleaded not guilty to the first charges, and will return to court for both cases on Sept. 16.

Woman’s Funeral Set

ENFIELD – Calling hours and funeral services for Ashley Garda Peoples, the 22-year-old local woman who was killed Sunday, will be held this weekend.

Peoples, of the Scitico section of Enfield, was found dead in the Church Street apartment of her ex-boyfriend, Darryl Crenshaw, 25. Police have issued a warrant for his arrest in the case.

Calling hours will be held at the Third Baptist Church on Kent Avenue in Suffield on Friday, from 2 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the church, followed by burial in Hazardville Cemetery in Enfield.

Three Held In Home Invasion

SIMSBURY – Three men were arrested Wednesday on burglary charges after two of them tried to force their way into an occupied home on Highwood Road, police said.

A resident of the home called 911 when Clifford Goodenow, 23, and Zachary Pierson, 22, both of Hopmeadow Street, tried to force their way into the residence, police said. Officers responding to the 5 p.m. call stopped a vehicle in which Goodenow, Pierson, and a driver, Kevin Cacciotti, 22, of Beacontree Heath Road in Granby, were attempting to flee, police said.

The three were charged with criminal attempt to commit burglary, breach of peace, criminal trespass, possession of burglary tools and conspiracy.

Cacciotti was also charged with operating a motor vehicle under suspension.

Cacciotti and Pierson were each held on 100,000bail,andGoodenowwasheldon100,000 bail, and Goodenow was held on 100,000bail,andGoodenowwasheldon50,000 bail They are scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Enfield today.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

School Plans Grand Opening

MANCHESTER – A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of Elizabeth M. Bennet Academy, a school for sixth-graders, will take place Sept. 3, at 6 p.m., at 1151 Main St.

People will be able to tour the building after the ceremony.

For those who cannot attend the Sept. 3 event, building tours will be available on Sept. 15, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Union Supports Conway

AREAWIDE – Matt Conway Jr., Democratic candidate for the 61st House District, announced Wednesday that he has been endorsed by the Connecticut Education Association.

The CEA has 41,000 members in the state.

Conway has worked in education for 20 years, he said.

The district includes Suffield and parts of Windsor and East Granby.

State Police Food Drive

AREAWIDE – The Connecticut State Police is sponsoring a State Police Food Drive, to help feed Connecticut, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at locations in Southbury, Manchester, Wallingford and Westport.

State troopers will donate their time to greet all patrons at the Shaw’s Supermarket stores. Troopers will have state police equipment on display, and children can expect a small special gift when they stop by to visit with the troopers.

Originally Published: August 14, 2008 at 4:00 AM EST