By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — A New Haven teenager who police believed took part in a Halloween holdup of trick-or-treaters was arrested because of a case of mistaken identity, Assistant State’s Attorney Charles Stango said Wednesday.
Stango told Superior Court Judge John Ronan that the case against Jorge Fernandez was dropped or “nolled,” because the police arrested the wrong person.
Fernandez, 16, of 102 Sherland Ave., was arrested because police believed he matched the description provided by victims of a white male wearing a Baltimore Orioles baseball hat. But Fernandez, who was found with a group of people in the area of the robbery, is Hispanic and was wearing a St. Louis Cardinals baseball hat, Stango said.
“I don’t know if your honor is a baseball fan, but that’s the difference between a black hat and a red hat,” Stango said to Ronan, referring to the colors of the two teams when explaining why the charges against Fernandez were nolled.
Since the charges were nolled, the prosecutor retains the right to reopen the case during the next 13 months, and if it is not reopened during that time, the charges are formally dismissed.
The charges stem from a Halloween night robbery of candy and a Halloween mask on Forest Road near the Interstate 95 overpass.
A 20-year-old and a 16-year-old told police they were trick-or-treating when they were approached by two teenagers. They told police one was wearing a hockey mask and had what they believed to be a handgun.
The gun turned out to be a “soft-pellet, facsimile handgun” that was found on the ground near where a group of teens was stopped. The suspects in the robbery were identified by police as Akil Bovell, 17, of 16 Westminster Court, New Haven and Fernandez, who were both arrested that night. The Halloween “trick” brought with it the potential of serious penalties as the two were charged with first-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit those crimes.
Police said they believe Bovell is the one who held the pellet gun and the case against him is pending in Superior Court at Milford. Stango said two independent witnesses have identified the actual accomplice and he expects charges against him to be filed soon.
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 876-3030.

MILFORD — Two Jonathan Law High School students were killed Monday night and a third remained hospitalized Tuesday after the car they were riding in slammed into a utility pole in the Westfield Connecticut Post Mall parking lot off Boston Post Road.
The 17-year-old driver, Shawn Foley, shown above, right, and his rear-seat passenger Jonathan Dolceacqua, 18, above left, of 67 Hill St., were taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital where they were pronounced dead, police said. Michael Vicino, 16, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was taken to Bridgeport Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition, police said. Vicino, of 175 Broadway, had been a Jonathan Law student but had transferred to Bullard Haven Technical School in Bridgeport.
Foley, of 480 Woodland Ave., apparently lost control of his 1990 Nissan 240SX while trying to pass another vehicle on Ring Road, police said. The road runs along the perimeter of the mall parking lot.
The Milford Police Traffic Division is continuing to investigate the accident.
Grief counselors are at Law to help staff and friends with the grieving process, officials said.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — A Shelton man who struck “terror and panic” into the hearts of a city family he allegedly called, claiming to have abducted their daughter, now faces criminal harassment charges.
The woman was not harmed or abducted, but the family told police they were terrified as they tried to locate their adult daughter after receiving the call.
Authorities said they believe the family in Milford is only one of many that were terrorized by threatening phone calls allegedly placed by Charles Dubord, shown above in a photo released by police.
Dubord, 55, of 64 Elm St., Shelton, was arraigned at Superior Court Wednesday after being arrested on a warrant charging him with two counts of second-degree harassment.
More charges are expected to be filed as other police departments are continuing their investigations and applying for arrest warrants, authorities said.
Dubord is believed to have made harassing phone calls to parents of women and girls that were featured in local newspapers in several communities, including Shelton, North Haven, Fairfield, Monroe, Seymour and others.
In some phone calls placed to parents, the caller explicitly described how he was sexually torturing their daughter, according to the arrest warrant.
In the phone call placed to the Milford family, Dubord allegedly told the woman’s parents that her car broke down and that he “had her.”
Fairfield police Capt. Gary MacNamara said his department is in the process of applying for an arrest warrant for Dubord and is investigating at least five calls placed over the past three years that fit the same modus operandi.
The caller first asks for information about the girl, before the calls become more disturbing and graphic, MacNamara said.
“These calls are very disturbing to the individuals and their families,” MacNamara said.
Detective Thomas Federowicz, Shelton police spokesman, said his department’s investigation is ongoing with mutual aid from other communities’ police departments.
Shelton police are asking anyone who has received a similar harassing phone call to contact them.
Police were able to link Dubord to the calls made from pay phones after a Derby convenience store attendant was able to get the license plate number and a good look at a man making a call. That man was later identified as Dubord after police told area convenience store and gas stations attendants to write down the license plate numbers of men making calls from their pay phones.
Police said the pay phone from the Derby convenience store was used to make harassing calls to Milford, Fairfield, North Haven and Shelton families.
Dubord is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail, a figure that Superior Court Judge John Cronan admitted is high for the relatively minor harassment charges. Cronan, however, said the amount was justified because of the “extremely disturbing” nature of the case and Dubord’s history of harassment.
He was previously convicted of two counts of threatening and harassment stemming from a 1999 Montville arrest for which he was sentenced to two years of probation.
He also served 120 days in jail and was given two more years of probation after receiving his second drunken driving conviction in 2002.
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 876-3030.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — A elementary school teacher is the subject of a police investigation after authorities received a complaint that she assaulted a student, police confirmed Monday.
Deputy Chief Steve Fournier said the Milford Police Youth Bureau launched an investigation after receiving a complaint late last week about an Orchard Hills Elementary School teacher.
Fournier would not elaborate on the severity or any specifics of the alleged attack other than to say that there were “marks” on the child’s body. No charges have been filed and authorities did not release the teacher’s name.
“We’re in the early stages of the investigation, basically to determine if something happened or not,” Fournier said.
Police have begun interviewing witnesses, but have not yet interviewed the teacher. Fournier said it was normal procedure to begin an investigation whenever receiving a complaint of this nature.
Orchard Hills Elementary School serves pupils from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade and has about 40 faculty members, according the school’s Web site.
Board of Education members confirmed they are aware of the issue, but declined to comment further because board policy prohibits them from speaking on personnel matters.
School officials also declined to comment. School and police officials would not say if the teacher is continuing to work at the elementary school while the investigation is pending. Superintendent of Schools Harvey Polanski did not return calls for comment.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. was notified of the investigation by police and said, “Student safety is our utmost priority and there are no students that are at harm at this time.” But he declined to say if teacher was still working with children.
School board member James Santa Barbara, D-5, who is a former 35-year city teacher, said he cannot recall a similar allegation ever being lodged.
“This is not the ordinary thing,” Santa Barbara said. “This is unusual.”
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 876-3030. Visit the All About Milford blog at Blog Central, www.nhregister.com.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — A city police officer was justified in May when he fired one round from his gun, injuring a New Haven Avenue man who was holding what was later revealed to be a fake gun during a domestic dispute with his wife, State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor announced Tuesday.
"After reviewing all of the information, I determined the officer acted appropriately under the circumstances," Lawlor said.
State police investigated the shooting that occurred on May 12, 2007, in which Sgt. Daniel Sharoh shot 37-year-old Roger Cadrin. a man who was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife.The Central District Major Crime Squad of the state police presented its report to the Milford-Ansonia Judicial District State’s Attorney Office, which conducted a joint investigation and made the ultimate finding.
Sharoh, a 14-year veteran of the force, was the first officer to respond to a call of a domestic dispute at 1145 New Haven Ave. Shortly after Sharoh arrived, Cadrin ran out of his house with what appeared to be a gun in one hand and knife in the other, authorities said. He was pointing the gun at the back of his wife, who he followed out of the house. Cadrin was told to drop the gun several times, but he refused, which prompted Sharoh to fire one shot from his duty weapon, Lawlor said. Cadrin fell to the ground after being shot in the hip and was taken into custody by officers that arrived shortly thereafter. The gun found next to Cadrin was later identified as a Daisey 25 plastic shot firearm replica, Lawlor said.
To use "deadly force," an officer must reasonably believe that he or someone else is in danger from someone using deadly force on them, according to state statute.
State police firearms examiners concluded in their report that the gun in question, "strongly resembled a Beretta ... semiautomatic pistol and only with close inspection when held in the hand could it be distinguished that it is not a firearm."
"No law enforcement officer ever wants to use any type of deadly force … but an officer’s hand may be forced," said Lt. J. Paul Vance, state police spokesman.
Cadrin was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital and has since been released. He faces attempted assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct charges in Superior Court. The ruling that the shooting by Sharoh was justified has no bearing on the case against Cadrin, Lawlor said.
After the shooting, Sharoh was placed on "administrative duties," and no representative from the Milford Police Department was immediately available to say if the officer was placed back on regular duty.
Vance said each police department has its own policy on such matters.
"Sometimes it’s so the department can do an internal investigation … some will do it to afford the officer time to regroup, because again, it’s an extremely difficult situation for any officer to go through."

By James Tinley
Register Staff
The father of an area boy who was molested for more than two years at the hands of a trusted baby sitter offered no forgiveness to his son’s assailant Wednesday at Superior Court.
"Him I’ll see in hell, your honor; I’ll be waiting," the victim’s father said, before Milford Superior Court Judge John Ronan sentenced Albert Cifarelli to serve nine years in prison.
Cifarelli, 17, of Orange had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault for molesting the child over a two-year period.
"There is nothing for me to do now, except to change," Cifarelli said in court Wednesday. "There are no words to describe the pain and guilt I feel. There are not enough ‘sorries’ in the world."
Cifarelli said he is now a different person than the 15-year-old who began molesting the child, but Ronan was not convinced.
"How could you possibly think this is something you could or should do?" Ronan said to Cifarelli. "This has devastated that family and at the same time devastated your family; it’s unimaginable what everyone had to go through because of you. It’s disgusting."
The victim’s mother, who was visibly distraught in court, said the child still has nightmares and suffers emotionally from the sexual assaults.
Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Russo said this was one of the most difficult cases he had handled in his career as a prosecutor, because of the severity of the charges and the young ages of the perpetrator and victim. Despite Cifarelli’s age, trying him as a youthful offender was something that was never discussed, Russo said.
Also, despite any qualms Russo may have had about sending a young man to prison, he said, "I’ve been doing this long enough to know every action has consequences."
Cifarelli was sentenced to 15 years in prison, suspended after he serves nine years. He also must serve 10 years of probation when he is released from prison. Cifarelli also will have to register as a sex offender for 15 years, undergo psychological evaluation and treatment and won’t be allowed near any child under the age of 16.
"As far as the sentencing goes, the state achieved what it wanted, but it’s not happy for anyone involved in the case," Russo said.
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com, or 876-3030.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — A city man faces more than 20 years in prison for allegedly holding up a Bridgeport Avenue gas station with a hypodermic needle.
Michael Kucewicz was ordered held in lieu of $75,000 bail at his arraignment in Superior Court Tuesday. He faces charges of first-degree larceny, carrying a dangerous weapon, first-degree threatening and sixth-degree larceny stemming from the robbery, police said. His next court date is Feb. 5.
Kucewicz, 40, was arrested at his 17 Nettleton Ave. home late Monday night after police recognized him as the man on the surveillance tapes shown robbing the Getty Gas Station at 300 Bridgeport Ave., said Officer Vaughan Dumas.
Less than $200 was taken from the gas station, police said.
Kucewicz allegedly walked into the Getty station at 300 Bridgeport Ave. at 7:31 p.m. Monday and threatened to stick the clerk with a hypodermic needle if the clerk didn’t empty the registers, police said. The needle was not recovered by police, Dumas said.
Kucewicz also allegedly threatened to shoot the clerk and had his hand in his pocket as if he had a gun, police said.
Dumas said the Police Department has had an "extensive history" with Kucewicz and investigators immediately recognized him when they reviewed the surveillance tapes. While Dumas could not immediately remember any specific arrests, he said Kucewicz and police have had several "run-ins" in the past.
Kucewicz had served time for a prior drug conviction and was recently released from federal custody. He was convicted of assaulting an FBI agent.
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 876-3030. Visit the All About Milford blog at Blog Central, www.nhregister.com.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — Police Chief Keith Mello recently announced the addition of two incentive programs: the Board of Police Commissioners’ Award and "challenge coins."
The commissioners’ award is for any employee who has advanced the goals of the department over a two-year period. One person will be selected by the police board, after being nominated by his or her peers.
"This...program (is) to recognize officers for exemplary service," said Mello, shown at right. "And it’s not just for officers or necessarily for an arrest on big case. A lot of people come to work motivated and help move this department forward."
Mello said that community service should be recognized. Many other police awards are incident-driven and highlight a particular arrest or act of bravery of an officer. This award is to highlight someone who has performed admirably in leadership and ethics or has displayed a strong desire to develop relationships with the community, Mello said. The recipient will receive a plaque and a certificate.
The "challenge coins" are glass tokens emblazoned with the city’s emblem and are designed to be handed out to officers "just to say great job," Mello said.
The Rev. Carleton Giles, vice chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners, said the incentive programs are great ideas and should help foster an environment that will make officers excited to come to work.

By James Tinley, Register Staff
MILFORD — False alarms are dropping off, despite a sharp rise in the number of active security systems in the city, Police Chief Keith Mello said Wednesday.

Mello said this trend keeps officers from wasting time responding to false alarms, and protects the public from the resulting speeding cruisers with lights and sirens blaring.

“When officers respond to a hold up or a burglar alarm, they have to assume there is a crime being committed,” Mello said. “That puts officers and the public at risk the more times they have to respond to these calls.”

In 2004, 1,602 security systems were registered with the Police Department.

Those 1,602 alarms were the source of 3,250 alarms to which the police responded.

In 2007, the number of active security systems has surged to 3,269, but police responded to just 2,693 alarms, or a 17 percent drop in false alarms, said police spokesman Officer Vaughan Dumas. Dumas took the lead on an aggressive campaign to lower the incidence of false alarms.

By city statute, every alarm system has to be registered with the Police Department. If a particular system is the source of too many false alarms, fines are imposed.

Dumas said he lowered the fine but also reduced from six to three the number of chances someone has before being fined.

On someone’s third false alarm, a letter is also sent telling the owner of the problem and ways to fix it.

The owner must prove that the problem is fixed or he or she will be fined.

If police have to respond to another alarm, the owner will fined $50. The fine increases with each subsequent offense.

Board of Police Commissioners Chairman L. Kenneth Fellenbaum said the downswing in false alarms exemplifies Mello’s efforts to “do more with less money. I do believe everything flows down from the top and this is one of those examples of a good thing the chief is doing,” Fellenbaum said Thursday.