Operation SANTA: Stop-Another-Needless-Tragic-Accident

STATE POLICE PLAN 2014 HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT

The Connecticut State Police has launched the 2014 Holiday enforcement program in an attempt to save lives and prevent injury as the Christmas/New Year’s holiday season approaches. 

Operation S.A.N.T.A. S-top A-nother N-eedless T-ragic A-ccident is the major holiday accident and injury prevention message from the Connecticut State Police.

This combined accident reduction effort (C.A.R.E.) involves all State Police Departments across the U.S. The focus of this enforcement will be on the drivers behavior that most frequently causes accidents. Enforcement will also attempt to rid the roads and highways of drivers who will drive under the influence, speed, and fail to wear seatbelts.

DUI enforcement will increase dramatically during this holiday season. Traditionally at this time of year, many holiday celebrations such as house and office parties take place. 

Many of these parties MAY include the consumption of alcohol. Some partygoers will not designate a non-drinking driver and will neglect to remember that mixing alcohol with driving any motor vehicle is unwise, dangerous and illegal.  

State Police Troopers have scheduled DUI sobriety checkpoints and enhanced DUI enforcement operations on the roads and highways all across Connecticut.

Click HERE to see list of roving patrols and sobriety checkpoints.

Emergency Services & Public Protection Commissioner Dora Schriro said, “Our State Troopers are trying to save lives and keep all of our roads and highways safe. Remember mixing alcohol with driving any vehicle is a dangerous combination for everyone, and illegal in our State.”

No one looks forward to spending time in a jail cell, a hospital, or someplace worse during the holidays. Connecticut State Troopers will be out in force to try to keep drunk drivers off the roads.

Troopers are asking the public to join our effort, if you are planning to consume alcohol at a festive event, make plans in advance for a non-drinking driver to bring you home. 

If you spot a suspected drunk driver, call 911 and report it to the police, as this is a true emergency.

Distracted driving, cell phone use, speeding and not wearing seat belts will be an important part of “OPERATION SANTA” 2014 enforcement. These violations all contribute to the cause of accidents. Troopers are asking all motorists to obey the laws and help the Connecticut State Police keep all roads and highways safe. 

~Lt. J. Paul Vance

Public Information Officer

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection &
the Connecticut State Police

STATE POLICE OPERATION S.A.N.T.A. 2014
* FINAL Statistics * 

The following are the State Police Christmas (Operation SANTA) holiday enforcement statistics. 

The statistics from Tuesday, 12/23/2014 at 12:01 a.m. through Friday, 12/26/2014  at 11:59 p.m. are as follows:

Accidents:  279
Accidents with injury: 38
Accidents with fatalities:  1  Car vs. Pedestrian Beacon Falls

Moving Violations
DUI arrests: 19
Speeding: 243
Seatbelt: 13
Hazardous Moving violations (following too close, distracted driving, cell phones, etc.): 706

Troopers observed a high traffic volume over the 2014 Christmas holiday. This State Police enforcement effort will continue as we approach the New Year’s Eve Holiday Celebration. Troopers will continue to conduct enforcement patrols throughout the state on both highways and secondary roads.

In addition, sobriety checkpoints will also be set up in an effort to deter anyone from the consumption of alcohol and driving as we approach and celebrate the New Year.

     ...If anyone sees a suspected drunk driver, please call 911 and immediately report it! 

2013 Statistics:

Accidents: 249
Accidents with injury 28
Accidents with fatalities: 0

DUI arrests: 18
Speeding:  301
Seatbelts: 4
Hazardous moving violations: 601   

Drive-By Malware, Phishing, Vishing & Phone Scams

A senior citizen from Haddam recently reported that he was victim of a cyber scam, and was accused of viewing child pornography. His computer was locked with an attached false message demanding payment.

   

The Federal Bureau of Investigation website described the scam as "drive-by malware" because unlike many viruses—which activate when users open a file or attachment—this one can install itself when users simply click on a compromised website. 

Once infected, the victim's computer immediately locks, and the monitor displays a screen stating there has been a violation of federal law.

The bogus message goes on to say that the user’s Internet address was identified by the FBI or the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section as having been associated with child pornography sites or other illegal online activity. 

To unlock their machines, users are instructed that they are required to pay a fine using a prepaid money card service.  

For further information regarding this scam, go to the FBI link: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2012/august/new-internet-scam

For FBI contact information:

http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us

 ~Trooper Enrico Milardo

 Haddam Resident State Trooper

"Phishing" is a form of Internet fraud that utilizes spoofed e-mails to lead the recipient to a false website. The false website is designed to trick the recipient into disclosing financial information such as credit card numbers, account usernames, passwords and social security numbers.

"Vishing", also known as "voice" phishing over the phone, is the practice of criminals whose main intent is to collect sensitive or personal information through the use of the telephone. This type of scam usually involves a spoofed (false) telephone number that appears to be a legitimate company. If you are ever in doubt of the call, hang up and call the business back using their main line and not the one they provide you.

An East Haddam resident recently reported receiving several repeat phone calls from a person claiming to be a representative from the telephone/internet company, offering to correct some recent problems that had been reported, related to the resident's internet service.

The caller went on to request that the resident would need to turn on their computer for further instructions.

The number, as it was registered on the resident's Caller ID, as 254-784-5226, was only identified as a "Wireless Caller".

An internet search on this particular phone number revealed further activity of the same nature, as reported on the following website:

http://www.whycall.me/254-784-5226.html

If you think you have become a victim of this type of telephone-solicited fraud and that your personal and/or financial information has been compromised, you may contact the East Haddam Resident Troopers' Office at 860-873-1226.

*Photo courtesy of Dreamstime.com

Bullet Into Residence, Criminal Trespass, Burglary, Larceny, Forgery, DUI and Speeding through 12-1-14

The East Haddam Police and the Connecticut State Police, Troop K in Colchester report the following incidents:

CRIMINAL TRESPASS AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT - On Nov. 16 at approximately 6:01 a.m., Thomas Kabara, 31, of East Haddam-Moodus Road, Moodus was arrested by East Hampton Police and charged with 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and 2nd-Degree Disorderly Conduct. Kabara was released on a $500 bond with a Promise to Appear and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 11/25/14.

BURGLARY, LARCENY, FORGERY AND ILLEGAL USE OF A CREDIT CARD - On Nov. 17 at approximately 6:45 a.m., Sarah Peckham, 41, of Babcock Road, East Haddam was arrested, based on an active warrant, and charged with 3rd-Degree Burglary, 3rd-Degree Larceny, 3rd-Degree Forgery and Illegal Use of a Credit Card. Peckham was held on a $100,000 bond and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on the same day.

BULLET INTO RESIDENCE - On Nov. 18 at approximately 4:05 p.m., East Haddam Police were dispatched to investigate a complaint at a home on East Shore Drive, in the Lake Hayward section of East Haddam. A window had been shattered, and a .22 caliber bullet was discovered inside the dwelling. According to police, the bullet had entered through a window located on the lower level of the house and impacted a cabinet before bouncing off and landing in an empty dog bed on the floor. The homeowner was upstairs at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported, and the case is under investigation. Anyone with possible information is asked to contact Corporal Karl Karabienikoff at the East Haddam Resident Troopers' Office at 860-873-1226. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you may leave a voice-mail on the (confidential) Crime Tip Line at 860-873-5013.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. MAILBOX AND UTILITY POLE - On Nov.19 at approximately 1:33 p.m., Leo Limieux, 70, of Allen Street, Portland was traveling westbound on the East Haddam-Colchester Turnpike in East Haddam in the area of Stocking Lot Road, driving a 2012 Nissan Rogue. Police said that as Limieux attempted to maneuver his vehicle through a section of roadway where construction work was in progress, he struck a mailbox and utility pole. No injuries were reported. Limieux was issued a verbal warning for Failure to Drive in the Proper Lane, and the accident is under investigation.

FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN INFRACTION - On Nov. 21 at approximately 8:45 a.m., Gabriel Soucie, 20, of O'Connell Road, East Haddam was located by Colchester Police at the Mobil Gas Station on Old Hartford Road in Colchester. Soucie was taken into custody without incident, pursuant to an active warrant for the above charge. He was later released on a $150 bond and given a court date of 12/9/14 at Middletown Superior Court.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS, SPEEDING AND OPERATING AN UNREGISTERED MOTOR-VEHICLE - On Nov. 28 at approximately 11:24 p.m., State Police initiated a motor-vehicle stop for Speeding on Route 434 in East Haddam. A subsequent investigation developed probable cause that the driver was operating under the influence of drugs. David Trotochaud, Jr., 43, address unknown, of East Haddam was taken into custody and charged with the above violations. Trotochaud was released on a $500 bond and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 12/15/14.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. TREE - On Nov. 29 at approximately 4:58 a.m., Owen Blaschik, 26, of East Haddam-Moodus Road, Moodus was traveling westbound on the East Haddam-Colchester Turnpike in East Haddam, in the area of Falls-Bashan Road, operating a 2004 Honda Civic. Police said that Blaschik crossed over and traveled off the left side of the roadway and collided with a tree. He refused transport to an area hospital for evaluation and medical treatment, but was issued an infraction for Failure to Drive Upon the Right.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. TREE - On Dec.1 at approximately 7:15 a.m., Justin Goodreau, 25, of Waterhole Road, East Hampton was traveling eastbound on Mount Parnassus Road in East Haddam, in a 1998 Audi A-4. Police said that as Goodreau was turning left onto Schulman-Veselak Road, his vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway, striking a tree. No injuries were reported. Goodreau was issued a written warning for Failure to Drive in the Proper Lane, and the accident remains under investigation.

An arrest or infraction does not indicate a conviction, and all individuals listed in these reports are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

East Haddam Police: Stuff-a-Cruiser Christmas Toy Drive

The East Haddam Police Officers and Resident State Troopers will host our 9th Annual "Stuff a Cruiser Toy Drive" this coming Saturday, December 6, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The event will be held at the Nathan Hale Plaza located at 26 Falls Road, Route 149 in Moodus.

New, unwrapped toys are needed for children from infants to age 18. In addition to toys, donations of hats, gloves, scarves and socks are needed for children of all ages.  All donations will be distributed through East Haddam Youth and Family Service (EHYFS) to children within the community.

Any family in East Haddam or Moodus that is in need of assistance during the holiday with gifts for their children should contact Kaitlin Hagan at EHYFS.  She can be reached at 860-873-3296.

For additional information on the Stuff a Cruiser Event please contact Trooper Ian Hawes at 860-537-7555 x 4008, Officer Craig Mansfield at 860-873-6019 or email  police@easthaddam.org.