March 2010

On January 6, 2010 a complaint was made to the Ledyard Police Department regarding a juvenile female having received explicit text messages from an adult male who was known to her family. Investigation led to an arrest warrant being applied for, and granted, for the arrest of the suspect in this case. On March 3, 2010 the accused, Nicholas P. Beers (date of birth October 5, 1989) of 385 Buddington Road in Groton, turned himself in to police. He was processed and released on bond pending arraignment at GA 10 in New London.

On October 10, 2009, the Ledyard Police Department received the compliant of a Larceny by fraud which occurred between two individuals in Ledyard. Investigation by the Patrol and Detective divisions found that the accused is alleged to have retained a large amount of money paid by the victim, which was intended for another purpose related to a real estate transaction. As a result of this investigation an arrest warrant application was submitted to the New London States Attorneys office. On March 4, 2010, the accused, Debora A. Pietrella (date of birth March 20, 1962) of 2 Whalehead Drive in Gales Ferry was arrested and charged with Larceny in the 2nd degree. She was held on a court set bond and will be arraigned at GA 10 New London on March 5, 2010.

On March 5, 2010, at approximately 3:49 p.m., the Ledyard Police Department was notified that a Ledyard transport school bus, which was transporting students, had a rear window struck by an unknown object on Robin Hood Drive in the Gales Ferry section of town. This resulted in the breaking of the window and caused no reported injury to students. Ledyard Police Officers, as well as a Ledyard Police K9 unit responded and searched the area. Investigation is ongoing to identify the type of object which struck the window. The Ledyard Police Department urges anyone with information regarding this incident to contact them at 860-464-6400.

In August of 2009 the Ledyard Police Department initiated an investigation into allegation from persons in both California and Ohio that a Ledyard woman had engaged in fraudulent activities related to internet transactions. Several search warrants were requested and issued as a result of this investigation, leading to the arrest of the accused. On March 8, 2010, at approximately 8:45 a.m. Elaine Roberts (date of birth September 6, 1973) of 22 Blacksmith Drive in Ledyard was arrested and charged with Larceny in the 1st degree and held on a court set $100,000 bond awaiting arraignment at GA 10 in New London.

On March 9, 2010, the Ledyard Police Department attempted to stop a motor vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Mathewson Mill Road in Ledyard. The vehicle attempted to elude police and pulled into a driveway on Coachmans Pike in Ledyard. Once in the driveway the passenger fled the vehicle into the wooded area behind the residence. The vehicle operator, Daniel Menihan (date of birth September 15, 1981) was taken into custody immediately. He was charged with Interfering with police and failure to obey officer's signal.The passenger who fled was located a short time later hiding in a shed with the assistance of a Connecticut State Police K9. He was identified as Ormand F. Northup III (date of birth December 26, 1981) of 12 Ephraims Path in Ledyard. As a result of this incident he was charged with interfering with police and resisting arrest. It was also learned that he was wanted for failure to appear in court by the Norwich Police Department, as well as a violation of probation warrant by the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General. He was arraigned at GA 10 New London for the Ledyard and Norwich charges, as well on fugitive from justice charges for the Rhode Island warrant.

On March 9, 2010, at approximately 0221 hours, a citizen contacted the Ledyard Police Department to report that he had observed a vehicle drive behind the Mobil Station on Route 117 in Ledyard. An individual wearing black clothing and a ski mask exited the vehicle and walked to the front of the store, smashing the front door with a rock. The individual entered the store stealing multiple cartons of Newport cigarettes before fleeing on Route 117. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Ledyard Police Department at 860-464-6400.

On March 17, 2010, the Ledyard Police Department investigated the report of a residential burglary on Route 117 just south of Ledyard Center. Investigation revealed that the front door of the residence was forced open at some point during the day on March 17. Once inside the perpetrator(s) removed a large number of collectable coins. Anyone who may have witnessed anything related to this crime is urged to contact the Ledyard Police Department at 860-464-6400

In September 2009, the Ledyard Police Department began an investigation into an alleged criminal lockout of tenants from a rental property on Kings Highway in Gales Ferry. Investigation revealed that a real estate agent had removed the personal property of the tenants renting the property and changed the household locks after the home was foreclosed on. As a result of this investigation an arrest warrant was issued by the superior court of New London for the arrest of Douglas A. Rapp (date of birth September 6, 1956) of 58 Lebanon Avenue Number 2F in Willimantic, Connecticut. He was charged with larceny 1st degree and criminal lockout. He was released with a court date of April 5, 2010, at GA 10 New London.

On March 25, 2010, at approximately 1840 hours, the Ledyard Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call indicating that a person had suffered burns at a residence on Linden Lane in Ledyard. The Ledyard Fire Company, Gales Ferry Fire Company, Ledyard Volunteer Emergency Squad, and American Ambulance, along with the Ledyard Police Department and Resident Trooper responded. As a result of this incident a male received severe burns and was flown by Life Star helicopter to Bridgeport Hospital, while a female was transported to the WW Backus Hospital for non-serious burn injuries. The Ledyard Police Patrol and Detective divisions,the Ledyard Fire Marshal, with assistance from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, are investigating this incident. The Mashantucket Tribal Fire Department assisted with establishing a landing zone for Life Star.

On March 29, 2010, at 2331 hours, the Ledyard Police Department received the report of a head on motor vehicle accident on Route 12 near River Road in Gales Ferry. Responding Officers found that the operator of one of the vehicles had fled the scene on foot, while the operator of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries. The injured operator was transported to the WW Backus Hospital in Norwich. Police conducted a K9 track from the scene and continue their investigation to identify the operator who evaded the scene. Anyone with information is urged to contact Officer Daniel Gagnon of the Ledyard Police Department at 860-464-6400.

On March 31, 2010, at 2009 hours, the Ledyard Police Department received the report of a vehicle versus tree accident on Lantern Hill Road in Ledyard. Responders found that a 2008 Ford F150 pick-up truck operated by Benjamin Bates age 48 of 361 Flanders Road in Mystic had struck a tree in the vicinity of Number 550 Lantern Hill. Bates was transported to the Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London by the Ledyard Volunteer Emergency Squad for the treatment of his injuries. He was later transferred to the Yale New Haven hospital. This accident remains under investigation by the Ledyard Police Patrol Division with assistance from the Ledyard Police Accident Reconstruction Team.