The Goshen Gazette

UPDATE SEYMOUR — The public helped town police identify a person involved in a hit-and-run last month. “Thank you for your assistance in this matter,” police said on Facebook. “We have identified the individual and he has been down to the department to assist with the investigation.” Original story: SEYMOUR — Police are seeking a person who they said was involved in a hit-and-run accident at the Seymour McDonald’s last month. The accident happened between 8:20 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 12. “The individual is described as being a white male, wearing a black shirt, black jacket, blue jeans and tan boots,” Seymour police said.

FAIRFIELD — The former president of a rehabilitation nonprofit for pit bull dogs turned herself in to Fairfield police on Tuesday and was charged with five counts of animal cruelty. Heidi E. Lueders, 31, who formerly resided on Prince Street in Fairfield and now resides in New Canaan, was charged with five counts of cruelty to animals and criminal damage to a landlord’s property by a tenant. Her arrest stems from the discovery of five canine remains in crates inside her home on Nov. 14, 2018, according to police. Leading up to the discovery of the dog remains, Lueders was the president of a rehabilitation nonprofit for pit bull dogs — Bully Breed Rescued, based in New Canaan.

BRIDGEPORT — Police were investigating a fatal stabbing Monday night. It was the first homicide in the city this year. Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said the stabbing happened at around 6:15 p.m. “A 39-year old male was stabbed during an altercation inside 136 Bishop Avenue. The victim exited the premises and collapsed on the sidewalk nearby. A witness called 911 and the victim was located by police.” He was transported by medics to Bridgeport Hospital where he was pronounced dead. “Detectives processed the crime scene at and are following leads in the case,” Fitzgerald said.

MILFORD - A 28-year-old West Haven woman was arrested Sunday after allegedly biting and striking an adult male who was holding an infant. Crystal Westcott, of Terrance Avenuue, was charged with third-degree assault, two counts of risk of injury, disorderly conduct and violation of a protective order. A 11:30 a.m. Sunday, police responsed to a possible domestic incident in an Edgemont Avenue residence. Officer Joseph Dempsey said, “the investigation led to tha arrest of Westcott, who is accused of throwing items in the home, and biting and striking a male adult victim while holding an infant child.

MILFORD — A local resident brought a grenade he found in a house outside of the city to the Milford Police Department on Friday, forcing the closure of the department’s lobby and front lot for about half an hour. Officer Mike DeVito, the Milford police spokesman, said the man went to the police station in Milford because he lives in the city. DeVito said the grenade was found in another area of Connecticut. The man was, as part of his job, cleaning out a house in another town where no one was home. “He came across an ancient grenade,” DeVito said. “So he brings it out, puts it in his car and drives it — not to the town he was in, but he takes it to Milford Police Department.

BLOOMFIELD — Michael Haseltine and his wife were set to open the state’s latest craft beer brewery in Bristol, probably during April. All that was left to do was obtain the required federal license, label approval and other paperwork. But that’s not happening anytime soon — thanks to the ongoing federal government shutdown over a proposed border wall. Although Haseltine applied to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in early December, the little-known federal agency is shuttered and no one even answers the phone. "The effect of the shutdown is it’s keeping us from opening the doors," said Haseltine, owner of Better Half Brewing. "There is no one to even talk to.

DARIEN - Police say they are seeing a new trend with overnight burglaries into unlocked motor vehicles: Also breaking into people’s house. Police put of a warning Thursday and social media and the department’s web site. “The town of Darien continues to experience an increase in overnight-hour burglaries into unlocked motor vehicles. This trend is not isolated to Darien as the majority of towns and cities in Fairfield County, and the state, continue to experience these incidents at increasing rates. “Many of these crimes are perpetrated by juvenile offenders who, when caught, inform police officers that it is common knowledge that towns like Darien are target-rich environments.

TRUMBULL - A New York counterfeiting ring was stopped by police while they fled the Westfield Trumbull mall after attempting to use fraudulent credit cards at the Apple Store. At around 6 p.m. Wednesday, a Trumbull officer patrolling the mall’s parking lot observed three males walking together suspiciously. The males split up and entered the mall after seeing a marked patrol car. Capt. Keith Golding said “a short time later the males exited the mall and quickly made their way into a waiting vehicle parked near the exit.