A Home Stands Guarded as a Community Reels
A member of the Westport Police Department guards the main entrance to a Coleytown neighborhood home where two community members were found dead Thursday afternoon. The white light of investigators’ flashlights can be seen on the second floor as members of the Westport Police Department and Connecticut State Police begin to piece together a tragedy that has left the Westport community reeling.
Coleytown Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool were announced as closed for academic classes on Friday, allowing the school to be used for mental health support services - available from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM.
If you or someone you know is in need of mental health support services, visit Westport Together for resources available.
Superintendent: “We were informed of the untimely and tragic loss of one of our parents and her beloved daughter.”
Press Release, Superintendent Thomas Scarice
Dear Westport Families and Staff,
It is with great sadness that I write this message to the school community this evening. Late this afternoon, we were informed of the untimely and tragic loss of one of our parents and her beloved daughter. There are no words that could console the sense of sorrow we feel by this unspeakable tragedy. We want to express our deepest condolences to all those impacted by this heartbreaking loss.
At times like this, children, like adults, begin to think of their own experiences with death and many feelings surface. These feelings may focus on the person who has died, another person who has died in the past, an impending death, or anxiety about death in general. As a school staff, we encourage you to listen carefully to your child and answer questions openly and honestly should they occur. Accepting your child’s feelings and validating them is beneficial. During the days ahead, your child may find it helpful to discuss his/her feelings with you or another adult.
The school district has begun to mobilize all of our resources to provide the necessary support to our students and faculty. More information will be forthcoming regarding emotional supports for members of our school community. If your child has questions or needs support, please reach out to a building administrator, school psychologist, counselor, or social worker. In the interim, we have provided the following resources for families.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CkZBC-G1A83mRD8G_bk83dhyMwkVp9IE/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CvixUoR9lRDTeI5IHVZDtHQRBrk1Vkcy/view?usp=sharing
Coleytown Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool will be closed for students tomorrow but will be open for parents and students to access mental health services between 11:00am-1:00pm. More information will be provided to the Coleytown Elementary School and Stepping Stones Preschool communities.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools
Westport Police Investigate the Untimely Death of Adult and 7 Year Old Child in Westport Home
The Connecticut State Police Major Crime Squad remaining on-scene at 11:00 PM Thursday night. Westport Police Press Release
(Westport, CT) At approximately 4:00 p.m. on this date the Westport Police Department along with Westport Emergency Medical Services and the Westport Fire Department responded to a home in Westport on a report of an unresponsive female. Upon arrival, an adult female was located inside the home, and it was determined that she was deceased. After finding the female, the officers went through the interior of the residence todetermine if anyone else was inside. It was at that time that officers located a seven-year-old child who was also deceased.
The Westport Police is in the beginning stages of thisinvestigation and is being assisted by the State Police MajorCrimes Unit.
This appears to be an isolated incident and we do not believe that there is any active threat to the community.
Traffic Agent to the Commuter’s Rescue
A Westport Police Department traffic agent manned the intersection of Riverside Avenue and Bridge Street this evening as the afternoon commute made its way through the community. After several weeks of seemingly increasing traffic in Westport, the traffic agent was a site for sore eyes as cars quickly made their way off of the William F. Cribari Bridge, which was named for the famous traffic cop who kept the cars moving through the early 2000s at nearly 80 years old.
Westport Pride Rainbow Lights Allegedly Vandalized Overnight; Many Missing or Damaged on Route 1 Bridge
Westport Pride Press ReleaseAt 8:00 AM, Brian McGunagle, founder of Westport Pride, while driving to work, noticed that the rainbow balloons placed on the bridge lights in celebration of Pride month had been removed.
Most of the lights on the northbound side of the bridge, a Westport landmark, had the colorful balloons torn off and several lights were damaged. The southbound side of the bridge appears intact.
McGunagle said, "Hate has no home in Westport, and Westport Pride will continue to pursue its mission of radical welcome in our community despite any acts of vandalism."
Via email, the Downtown Association committed to replacing the balloons today and every time going forward. The alleged crime comes just days after Westport Pride held its first Pride Rally on Jesup Green on June 5th with attendance nearing 500.
Sal Liccione, RTM District 9, which represents downtown, and Westport Police are at the scene currently investigating.
Queens Man Held on $500,000 Bond after Coercing Westport Teen to Send Nude Photos, Sharing them
Westport Police Department Photo. A Queens, New York man [Anthony Pangallo, 37] was arrested by the Westport Police Department on Tuesday after a months-long investigation across multiple law enforcement teams. Allegations describe Pangallo’s coercion of a Westport teenage girl, making her send him nude photos of herself, at which point he then requested money from the girl in order for him to keep the photos private. The arrest report states that when the girl did not pay, Pangallo shared the photos of the minor.
The Westport Police Department investigation included the help of the New York Police Department, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Queen’s County District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Connecticut State’s Attorney.
Pangallo was held on $500,000 bond, and was transported to Stamford Superior Court for his arraignment on Wednesday.
Anthony Pangallo, of Rego Park, New York, has been charged with:
Risk of Injury to a Child
Employing a Minor in Obscene Performance
Promoting a Minor in Obscene Performance
Coercion
Unlawful Dissemination of an Intimate Image
Westport Police Department ReleaseOn December 4, 2020, the Westport Police Detective Bureau received a report of the possible exploitation of a local teenager. The complainant reported that she befriended an individual on social media. This individual persuaded the complainant to send nude photos of herself to him. After a period of time passed, the suspect allegedly told the complainant that if she did not pay him a sum of money, he would put the pictures on social media. When the complainant refused to pay, the suspect purportedly posted the compromising pictures.
The detectives launched an extensive investigation that included the execution of several search warrants and Anthony Pangallo was developed as a suspect. The evidence gathered suggested that Mr. Pangallo, who is thirty-seven years old, was the individual who engaged in the illegal conduct noted above. Therefore, a warrant for Mr. Pangallo’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge.
On the morning of May 25, 2021, Mr. Pangallo was taken into custody by Westport detectives. Per the warrant, he was charged with Risk of Injury to a Child, Employing a Minor in Obscene Performance, Promoting a Minor in Obscene Performance, Coercion, and Unlawful Dissemination of an Intimate Image. Mr. Pangallo was held on a $500,000.00 bond and was transported to Stamford Superior Court the morning of May 26, 2021 for his arraignment.
We would like to thank the following law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this investigation:
NYPD Computer Crimes Squad of the Special Investigations Division
Queens II – Sex Offender Unit New York State, Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Queens County District Attorney’s Office
Office of the State’s Attorney, Judicial District of Stamford – Norwalk
Westport Police Adds New Member to their Ranks: Officer Stephen Silva
Press ReleaseThe Westport Police Department is pleased to announce that Stephen Silva has joined its ranks. Officer Silva was sworn in during a small ceremony earlier today in front of his family and friends.
Officer Silva started his career in law enforcement in 2016 with the Bridgeport Police Department. During his time in Bridgeport, he worked in the patrol division, served as an acting detective, and was a member of the department’s honor guard. In addition to working full time as a police officer, Officer Silva is pursuing a degree in Emergency Management at Post University.
Public service is clearly something that runs in Officer Silva’s family as one brother is a detective with the Trumbull Police Department and the other is a corrections officer.
Chief Foti Koskinas stated that, “Officer Silva brings a wealth of experience and there is little doubt that he will be a great addition to the department. Please join me in welcoming him to the community.”
Local Therapist, Former Staples Peer Advisors Leader Michael Newman Arrested on Child Pornography Charges; Released on $250,000 Bond
Westport Police Department Photo. Following a Westport Police Department investigation that began on December 12, 2020 - local therapist and former advisor to the Staples High School Peer Advisor program, Michael Newman, was arrested on Friday for:
Possession of child pornography in the third degree [possession of less than 20 images/videos containing pornography of children. Class D felony; prison sentences up to five years; fine of up to $5,000]
Obscenity
Promoting a minor in obscene performance.
The investigation found the illegal content downloaded to devices at both his Westport home and business addresses. He was released on $250,000 bond and was scheduled for a court hearing this morning.
Newman founded the Peer Advisors group at Staples High School in 1995, explaining in a 2011 Staples’ Inklings News interview that “It is a very open and honest environment where students can talk in total confidence about any issues that they want.” The extra curricular activity was de-funded by the Board of Education in 2011, being converted into a school club that the non-profit Education and Prevention Institute of Connecticut agreed to fund.
Newman had also served as a prominent therapist and counselor for youth in the community, with an office in Westport.
Westport Police Department Press ReleaseOn December 12, 2020, the Westport Police Department’s Detective Bureau received information that a town resident was possibly downloading child pornography onto his electronic devices. The detective investigating the matter was able to determine that the IP address of the device(s) being utilized to download the suspected images did in fact come back to a home in Westport.
A search warrant was applied for and granted to search the computers and electronic devices at the address in question. A second search warrant was granted to search the computer and electronic devices at the suspect’s office which is also located in Westport. During an examination of the devices that were seized, images of suspected child pornography allegedly downloaded by Michael Newman were located. Based upon the investigation, a warrant for Mr. Newman’s arrest was completed and signed by a Superior Court Judge.
On the evening of May 21, 2021, Mr. Newman turned himself in at the Westport Police Department. Per the warrant, he was charged with Obscenity, Possession of Child Pornography in the Third Degree, and Promoting a Minor in Obscene Performance. Mr. Newman was released after posting a $250,000.00 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned the morning of Monday, May 24, 2021.
Police, Fire, and EMS Busy after 80 Calls to Service Received Before 6:00 PM Today
Sirens could be heard throughout the community today, starting with a motor vehicle accident on I-95 just after sunrise. Local first responders were kept busy afterwards - straight through sunset with multiple car accidents, medical emergencies, and police matters being called into the Westport emergency communications center, located at Westport Fire Department Headquarters and Westport Police Department Headquarters.
Westport Police responded to 40 calls-to-service.
Westport Fire Department responded to 30 calls-to-service.
Westport Emergency Medical Service responded to 10 calls-to-service.
Update: MTA Police Confirm One Dead after Leaving Train Traveling Between Westport and East Norwalk Stations
After an incident that stopped railway service between East Norwalk and Greens Farms Station this afternoon, the MTA has released information that describes one individual was killed after leaving a train car while it was traveling between the Westport and East Norwalk Stations.
Press Release, MTA Spokesman Aaron Donovan: The MTA Police are investigating a report that a 45-year-old male left a westbound Metro-North train at approximately 11:27 a.m. as the train was traveling between Westport and East Norwalk. The individual was pronounced deceased.
Metro-North service is suspended between South Norwalk and Southport. [now restored].
The train, carrying 150 passengers, was the scheduled 10:38 a.m. departure from New Haven, due into Grand Central at 12:50 p.m. As of 12:45 p.m., those customers have been transferred to another train.
Update, 2:11 p.m.
Metro-North service will resume on the New Haven Line at Green's Farms, Westport and East Norwalk beginning with the 1:18 PM train departing New Haven and the 1:03 PM train departing Grand Central Terminal.