April 2014

Route Thefts from Vehicles Arrests
On April 3, 2014 at approximately 0450 hours a concerned citizen contacted the Ledyard Police Department and reported that a car alarm was going off, and that a person was observed running on Mull Berry Drive in Gales Ferry. Ledyard Police Officers responded, and along with a State Police K9 team, tracked to a residence at 1500 Route 12 Unit 25 in Gales Ferry.

Along the route of the track it was observed that numerous vehicles appeared to have been entered. While at 1500 Route 12, numerous items which had been reported stolen recently were located. As a result, the Ledyard Police Department arrested the following individuals:
  • Zachary Ramos DOB 08/01/1993 of 1500 RT 12 Unit 25 was charged with Larceny 3rd Degree and was held on a $5,000 bond.
  • Mathew Kaminiski DOB 08/19/1993 of 1500 RT 12 Unit 25 was charged with Larceny 3rd Degree and held on a $5,000 bond.
Both individuals will be arraigned at GA 10 in New London.

This investigation has connected the arrested individuals with multiple vehicle breaks which have occurred recently in the Gales Ferry section of Ledyard. The Ledyard Police Department is in the process of inventorying the stolen property in an attempt reconnect victims with their property.

Protective Order Arrest
On February 28, 2014 the Ledyard Police Department arrested James Matthewson of 41G Flintlock Road in Ledyard, charging him with Sexual Assault 1st Degree (5 counts) and Risk of Injury to a minor (3 counts). Subsequent to that arrest, protective orders were put into place by a Judge at the New London Superior Court.

On April 9, 2014, James Matthewson DOB 10/16/1984 , currently incarcerated by the Connecticut Department of Corrections, was charged on an arrest warrant with 2 counts of Violation of a Protective Order. Matthewson was arraigned at New London Superior Court on these new charges.

Larceny/Forgery Arrest
On January 16, 2014 the Ledyard Police Department received a complaint regarding the possible forgery of checks from a Home/Business on Shewville Road in Ledyard, which resulted in the theft of $9,500. This investigation led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for a former employee of that business. As a result, Melissa Morrell DOB 12/04/1986 of 57 South Road #52 was charged with 3 counts of Larceny 3rd Degree and 3  counts of Forgery 3rd degree. Morrell was processed and released on bond, with a court date of April 22, 2014 at GA 10 in New London.

Fatal Motorcycle Versus Vehicle Accident
On April 12, 2014 at 1735 hours the Ledyard Police Department received the report of a motorcycle versus vehicle accident on Route 214 (Stoddards Warf Road) between Goulart and Whalehead Road. The Ledyard Police Department, Ledyard Fire Department, Gales Ferry Fire Department and the Ledyard Volunteer Emergency Squad responded.

Initial investigation determined that a motorcycle traveling westbound on Route 214 lost control, striking 2  separate eastbound vehicles. The operator of the motorcycle, Kyle Startz DOB 03/20/1989 of 23 Rhode Island Drive Groton, Connecticut, suffered fatal injuries as a result of the accident. The accident remains under investigation by accident reconstructionists from the Ledyard Police Department and Troopers with the Connecticut State Police CARS unit.

3-Vehicle Crash
On April 28, 2014 at 3:49 p.m. the Ledyard Police Department received the report of a 3-vehicle crash on Route 12 at Anderson Drive in Gales Ferry. The Ledyard Police Department, Gales Ferry Fire Department, Ledyard Fire Department, Ledyard Volunteer Emergency Squad, United States Submarine Base Fire Department and Ambulance, Poquetanuck Fire Department Ambulance, American Ambulance, and Lawrence and Memorial Hospital Paramedics responded.

As a result, 5 individuals were transported to both the Lawrence and Memorial Hospital and William W. Backus Hospital for non life threatening injuries sustained in the crash.

Initial investigation has found that a 2005 Honda Pilot operated by Colleen Sweet of 12 Maid Marion Drive in Gales Ferry was stopped on Route 12 S/B waiting to turn into Anderson Drive. A 2001 Ford F150 operated by Frank Swaney of Plainfield, Connecticut was traveling S/B on Route 12 and struck the rear of the Honda Pilot. This impact caused the Honda Pilot to be pushed into the Route 12 N/B lane where it struck a 2007 Ford 500 operated by Glenn Siter of Andover, Connecticut head on.

The accident caused Route 12 to be closed for a short time. This accident remains under investigation by the Ledyard Police Department.