On Monday, April 5, Orange police observed a male walking quickly through the parking lot of 526 Boston Post Road, where DSW Shoes is located.
The man, later identified as Eric T. Woodson, 57, of New Haven, then dropped four boxes of merchandise in front of the officers. Investigation revealed that Woodson had taken $360 worth of merchandise without paying for it.
He was taken into custody and charged with sixth-degree larceny.
Woodson was released on a promise to appear in court on May 4.
Early this morning (Friday, April 2) Woodbridge Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to two separate motor vehicle incidents involving injuries.
The first incident, reported at approximately 4:11 a.m., was a motor vehicle accident on Rimmon Road, just east of Racebrook Road. Emergency responders found that the sole occupant had been ejected and was pinned beneath the car. He was extricated by Fire Department personnel and transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital with severe injuries.
The second incident, which occurred on Litchfield Turnpike (RT 69) south of Morris Road, was reported at around 5:27 a.m. and involved a combustion-related accident within a vehicle which resulted in severe injuries and burns to the driver.
The vehicle fire was extinguished by Fire Department personnel and the driver was transported the Yale-NH Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. This incident is being investigated by the CT State Police Fire and Explosive Investigation Unit in conjunction with the Woodbridge Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Woodbridge Police Department.
At this time the names of those injured are not available for release.
On March 16, Orange police officers were called to OPD Headquarters on Lambert Road to process Andrew T. Pruitt, 32, of West Haven, who was turning himself in on an active arrest warrant for DUI.
The warrant stemmed from an incident that occurred on Pleasant Hill Road on Jan. 16.
Subsequently, he was taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to drive right.
Pruitt posted a $50 bond and received a court date of April 8.
Car break-ins are running rampant in all communities, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stratford, and of course, you may have noticed, Orange.
The unscrupulous individuals who are victimizing vehicle owners are not choosy about the neighborhoods in which they perform their crimes, nor do they wait until nightfall.
In the past year, people are noticing their cars have been entered and rummaged through at all hours of the day and night, it doesn’t seem to matter, according to Orange Asst. Police Chief Max Martins. “These are crimes of opportunity,” he said. “COVID may have contributed to the frequency of these crimes, with more people working from home and kids being free to roam without supervision, along with people not locking their cars. What we’re experiencing is that the unknown suspects are not forcing their way into the vehicles. They just check the door, and if it’s open they go inside to see what they can take.”
Martins added that several cars have been stolen in the past year as well. They often are recovered fairly quickly but stolen cars can, and are used in the commission of other crimes.
So, how do you protect yourself and your vehicle from being targeted?
LOCK your car. Do NOT leave the keys or FOB inside your vehicle. A locked vehicle is usually left alone.
Don’t be a victim, Lock your car whenever you are not in it. Even if you intend to “go out” in a few minutes. It only takes a few minutes for someone to target your vehicle.
The Orange Police Department faces numerous challenges last month (3,076 calls for service in that 28-day period) with a high number of Medical Emergencies — 127 — to which they were the first responders; 74 activated burglar alarms; 64 traffic accidents; 23 fights/disturbances; 23 shoplifting/larceny complaints; 1 residential burglary; 7 motor vehicle thefts; 19 criminal arrests; 3 DUI arrests; and the issuance of 42 motor vehicle citations.
It appears that perhaps the month of March may carry over some of the same types of criminal activities.
Last week, on the OPD Facebook Page, they posted a photo of a remote garage door opener with the following text:
A Genie garage door opener was recovered from a vehicle on Argyle Road on March 4th. The homeowner’s vehicle was entered into and the garage door opener was subsequently located inside. It is possible the garage door opener was taken from another vehicle in the area and inadvertently left behind in this other vehicle. If you think this garage door opener might belong to you, please contact Lt. Dennis Anderson, at 203-891-2130 and reference case #21-7127.
Photo from popfi.com
Support the Orange Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary by treating your children to a visit from the Easter Bunny.
The Easter Bunny is making an early trip to Orange again this year. Auxiliary members will help the Bunny hide plastic eggs in your yard on the night of Saturday, March 27, 2021, for your kids to wake up to on Sunday morning!
The Easter Bunny will leave a note along with eggs filled with your choice of candy (no nuts) or toys.
This is a fundraiser to benefit the OVFD, and the cost is $18 for the first 2 dozen eggs, $7 for each additional dozen. They can only be delivered within the town of Orange In case of rain or snow, eggs will be left on your front porch or steps.
For more information contact Jillian Gagel at 203-907-9054 (TEXTS OK) or e-mail OVFDAuxiliary@hotmail.com
Order Deadline:
Orders must be received no later than Saturday, March 20, 2021.
All proceeds benefit the Orange Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary
You also may sign up online with the Google Form and Venmo, https://forms.gle/suAf4muSLceRmqu69
For more information visit the Auxiliary Facebook page at facebook.com/OVFDAuxiliary
Send your form with payment to OVFD Auxiliary C/O Jillian Gagel, 408 Old Tavern Rd, Orange CT 06477
Orange Police responded to the Courtyard Marriott, 136 Marsh Hill Road on a dispute complaint at 9:13 a.m. on Monday, March 8.
Investigation revealed that there was an argument that escalated between Amber Watson, 24, of New Haven and another person, which led to Watson breaking and removing a hand sanitizing device from the hotel hallway and throwing it at the other person.
She was taken into custody and charged with second-degree breach of peace and third-degree criminal mischief.
Watson was released on a promise to appear in court on March 9.
On Tuesday, March 9, Orange Police responded to a complaint of shoplifting in progress at the Target store, 25 Boston Post Road at 1:34 p.m.
According to the report, officers approached Jeremiah Lopez, 49, of New Haven, who was accused of taking $344 worth of merchandise and leaving the store without paying.
Lopez was taken into custody and charged with sixth-degree larceny.
He was released on a promise to appear in court on March 29.
For as long as I can remember, the Orange Fire Marshal’s Office has engaged the town’s fourth and fifth-grade students in the state Fire Prevention Poster Contest.
If you haven’t heard of it, recently, It may be because of the disruption COVID-19 had on our lives, but, the town’s website carried a complete explanation of the whys and wherefores of the contest along with the specific rules. http://www.orange-ct.gov/803/Fire-Prevention-Poster-Contest
The contest is announced through the school system and, separate from any school work, the children have two months to work on their posters (Oct. 1 – Dec. 1).
For some towns this past year, the contest got lost in the shuffle with many schools on a remote learning schedule. But Orange wasn’t one of them. Fire Marshal Jamie Vincent said he received around 100 entries this year, from which two, one from a fourth-grader named Dasy from Racebrook and the other from a Turkey Hill fifth-grader named Avery were chosen and 
submitted to the County Representatives for the New Haven County judging process.
The Orange judges liked these two for their clear messages, excellent artwork, vivid colors, and the imagination and care that went into the work. It was clear that both girls love drawing and their posters contained all the required bullet points, which could result in winning the state competition.
Daisy said she was inspired by the message “Don’t hide, go outside” which is an important thing to remember if your home is on fire.
She said she loves drawing and making the poster was so much fun.
Avery’s drawing featured a cat stuck in a tree during a violent brush fire while a firefighter battles the blaze. A replica of her poster can be seen attached to the tree.
The detailed posters are both easily reproducible, for any and all future use by the State Fire Marshal’s office.
So, how did the girls help the OFM make history? In past years, Orange has had winning County posters, but it has never had two in the same year.
As the county winners, the girls each would receive a $150 prize. Locally, though they were bestowed with gifts from the OFM, Vincent presented each one with a gift certificate from Hobby Lobby and the OVFD gave each a certificate entitling them to a ride to school on a fire truck.
Congratulations Daisy and Avery. I wish you the best of luck in the State Competition.
Orange police responded to a complaint of a disturbance on a city bus in the area of the Boston Post Road near Peck Lane on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 2:25 p.m.
Investigation revealed that Kimberly E. Rivera, 26, of New Haven approached another individual and tried to strike that person multiple times.
Subsequently, she was taken into custody and charged with second-degree breach of peace.
Rivera was released on a promise to appear in court on March 2.