Early Morning Fire Leaves Bridal Gowns Smoke-Covered as Fire Quickly Extinguished by Firefighters
Photos by Ryan Blake, Blake Fire ImagesWestport Fire Department, Assistant Chief Philip HessbergerThe Westport Fire Department was dispatched to a commercial automatic fire alarm at 246 Post Road East 6:07 am. Upon arrival, the Shift Commander reported smoke in one of the storefronts and the assignment was upgraded to a structure fire.
First two arriving companies located the fire and stretched a large hand line to quickly extinguish the fire. An extensive search and overhaul of the building found no additional fire and the building was cleared of smoke.
The initial response included 2 engine companies, 1 truck company and the Shift Commander. The final response included 7 engines, 1 truck, 1 rescue, 5 command and safety officers with mutual aid from Wilton, Norwalk, Fairfield, Westport Police Department and Westport EMS.
The Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled the fire to be accidental and no injuries were reported.
The Westport Fire Department would like to remind the public that smoke detectors save lives and property, candles should never be left unattended, and everyone should have an exit plan in the event of an emergency.
Two Lanes Closed on I-95 due to Car Accident
The State Department of Transportation announced that two lanes of I-95 are closed just after 8:00 PM after an accident in the northbound lanes between exit 16 and 17. No other information has been released.
Police: One Arrested for DUI after Outpost Pizza Accident
Archived photo by Dave Matlow for WestportLocal.com. June 27th, 2021. One person has been arrested for operating under the influence of drugs/alcohol and failure to keep their lane after an accident that heavily damaged Outpost Pizza at 333 Main Street in the early morning hours of June 27th. The accident rendered the new business closed for several weeks, and still continues to face construction during pandemic related construction delays. Click here to read the original article on the accident.
Westport Police DepartmentThe truck was visibly noted as heavily damaged after it was towed to a nearby mechanic yard. June 27th, 2021. On June 27, 2021, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Westport Police officers responded to 333 Main Street on a report of a car accident. Upon arrival, the officers saw that a pick-up truck had crashed into the Outpost Pizza Restaurant. There was significant damage to both the exterior and interior of the building. The operator of the vehicle was identified as Jacob Teto. The investigating officer reported that Mr. Teto exhibited signs of intoxication which included slurred speech as well as blood shot eyes. He was ultimately transported to the hospital for treatment of what appeared to be minor injuries.
Given that investigating officer suspected that Mr. Teto was driving his pick-up truck under the influence of alcohol, he applied for and was granted a search and seizure warrant to obtain Mr. Teto’s blood alcohol content for the time frame in which the accident occurred. The results of the toxicology report showed that his blood alcohol content was above the legal limit. Based upon the officer’s observations the morning of the accident as well as the results of the toxicology report, an arrest warrant for Mr. Teto’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge.
On the evening of September 27, 2021, Mr. Teto turned himself in at the Westport Police Department. Per the warrant, he was charged with Operating Under the Influence of Drugs/Alcohol and Failure to Drive in the Proper Lane. Mr. Teto was released after posting a $1000.00 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on October 6, 2021.
Former Westport Lifeguard Arrested Again; Charged with Stalking at Compo just Years after Hundreds of Voyeurism Counts
The Westport Police Department announced today that Michael Collins, a former head lifeguard at Westport’s Burying Hill Beach, was arrested Thursday for stalking after an incident in August - when he was found to be taking pictures of women at Compo Beach. A disconcerting announcement, as Collins was arrested on hundreds of counts of voyeurism at Burying Hill just a few years ago.
In 2016, Collins was arrested on over 400 counts of voyeurism after he placed hidden recording cameras inside of clocks at the Burying Hill Beach lifeguard shack throughout the summer of 2015. The cameras captured female coworkers undressing and moving about the shack. He was also reported as taking photos of women on the beach using a long-range camera. He then took the photos, printed them, and posted them to his bedroom wall.
After the Westport Police Department’s 2015 investigation of his home and electronic devices, he was charged with 431 counts each of voyeurism, 431 counts of eavesdropping, and one third-degree count of possession of child pornography.
In 2017 at the Stamford Superior Court, he was able to escape a jail sentence - instead being given a 10-year suspended jail sentence and five years of probation by Judge Richard Comerford in state Superior Court in Stamford, according to the Stamford Advocate. He plead guilty to five counts of voyeurism, with the child pornography charge unable to be substantiated in court, according to a State’s attorney. He was also mandated to not contact any of his former Westport lifeguard coworkers for five years - while one coworker took out a 30-year restraining order against the former supervisor. (Stamford Advocate)
Collins was released yesterday on $10,000 bond and is scheduled for his arraignment next Thursday, September 30th, at Stamford Superior Court.
Westport Police Department, September 24th, 2021On August 25, 2021, at approximately 7:00 p.m., two females came to the Westport Police Department to report a suspicious incident that occurred at Compo Beach earlier in the day. They said that about 1:45 p.m. they observed a male in a silver Jeep watching and taking pictures of them as they swam and sunbathed. The complainants said that the male’s behavior was making them uncomfortable, so they left the area and walked towards a nearby restaurant. As they were walking, the person driving the Jeep allegedly drove past the females at least eight more times and was purportedly staring at the two as he did so. One of the complainants took a picture of the Jeep’s license plate and turned it over to the investigating officer. Using that information, Michael Collins was developed as a suspect. The officer reportedly obtained evidence leading him to believe that Mr. Collins was the person operating the vehicle that repeatedly drove past the females.
Based upon the investigation, a warrant for Mr. Collin’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge.
On the afternoon of September 23, 2021, Mr. Collins turned himself in at the Westport Police Department. Per the warrant, he was charged with two counts of Stalking in the Third Degree. Mr. Collins was released after posting a $10,000.00 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Stamford Superior Court on September 30, 2021.
Sylvan Road Rollover Sends Driver to Hospital
First responders were dispatched to the intersection of Sylvan Road South at Sylvan Lane for the report of a car on its roof. The vehicle lost control while heading down the hill from Sylvan Road South onto Sylvan Lane, and rolled over into the driveway of the home that sits in the middle of the fork in the roadways. The driver was ultimately transported to a nearby hospital by Westport EMS while Westport Police, Fire, and Westport Towing personnel worked to quickly clear the roadway and re-open it to traffic. No information on what caused the accident or extend of injuries has been released. WestportLocal.com photo
One Arrested for Westport Car Tire Thefts
Photo by JD Dworkow, July 7th. Westport Police DepartmentBetween July 6, 2021, and July 7, 2021, Westport Police officers took two separate reports of tires and rims being stolen off vehicles. The first incident occurred at the Saugatuck Train Station on July 6 at approximately 3:00 p.m. The second tire/rim theft occurred at the parking garage located at 21 Wilton Road on July 7 between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
As a result of informational sharing with area police departments that experienced similar crimes Shawn Oliphant was developed as a suspect. Evidence linking Mr. Oliphant to the two larcenies was reportedly obtained by the detective assigned to this case.
Based upon the investigation, a warrant for Mr. Oliphant’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge.
On the morning of September 16, 2021, Mr. Oliphant was arrested by a Westport Police detective. Per the warrant, he was charged with Larceny in the Third Degree and Larceny in the Fourth Degree. Mr. Oliphant was held on a $50,000 bond and arraigned later that same day at Stamford Superior Court.
Car Accident Reported at Exit 17
First responders are responding to I-95 in the southbound lanes for the reported car accident with injuries, just past exit 17. No other information has been released.
Firefighters Responding to Possible Fire at Lansdowne Condo Complex
Westport firefighters were dispatched shortly before 10:00 this morning for a possible fire in a condominium at the Lansdowne gated community. Multiple pieces of fire apparatus have been sent to the scene and could be seen making their way to the Post Road East address. . No information has been released.
Man Arrested after Threatening Woman with Knife Downtown Today; Held on $250,000 Bond
Westport Police DepartmentAt approximately 11:14am on the morning of September 12, 2021, the Westport Police Department’s emergency dispatch center was contacted by a couple who were the victims of an alleged robbery attempt that occurred on the Ruth Cohen Steinkraus Post Road Bridge. At nearly the same time the caller’s husband flagged down a patrol officer who was driving by.
It was reported that a male party had approached the couple quickly from behind. The suspect then began walking in step with the male victim at which time he told the couple to bring him to their car. He repeated the demand as he allegedly brandished a knife and threatening the female. The female then darted across the Post Road evading cars in order to escape. Her husband followed at which time the suspect then fled the area walking eastbound towards Jesup Road. Fortunately, neither of the victims were injured.
The victims were able to provide a detailed description of the suspect which was relayed to all of the responding officers. Patrol units began to saturate the area from all directions in an effort to locate the suspect. While officers were searching the area a member of the Westport Fire Department advised that he had seen a suspect fitting the descriptors in the area of 302 Post Road East. Officers were on scene within moments and located an individual who fit the description provided by the victims. The suspect was then identified as James S Cummings, age 41, of Bridgeport, CT. Cummings matched all of the physical descriptors provided and was then detained by officers where a knife was then located on his person. The victims purportedly identified Cummings as the individual who accosted them on the bridge.
Cummings was placed under arrest and charged with Attempt to Commit Robbery in the 1st Degree, Attempt at Larceny in the 3rd Degree, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, and Threatening in the 2nd Degree. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.
In response to the events that unfolded today Police Chief Foti Koskinas stated “I am extremely proud of all the officers who assisted with this incident. The high level of skill and teamwork they exhibited led to the quick apprehension of the suspect. Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Westport Fire Department for their assistance.”
Cummings had been out on bond at the time of this incident stemming from an arrest that occurred on September 5, 2021, in which he was charged with Sexual Assault in the 4th Degree (2 Counts), Threatening in the 2nd Degree, Attempt to Commit Assault in the 3rd Degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree.
Car Accident Reported on Merritt Parkway Southbound between Exits 44 and 42
An accident with possible serious injuries has been reported on the Merritt Parkway in the Southbound lanes, prior to Exit 42. Traffic will be slowed in the area as both Westport and Fairfield first responders are en route. No other information has been released.