Stratford, CT
News
CT Resident Admits Making Numerous Hoax Threats, Feds Say CT Resident Admits Making Numerous Hoax Threats, Feds Say
CT Resident Admits Making Numerous Hoax Threats, Feds Say A Connecticut man with a history of making threats has admitted to making a new round of threats that involved killing, injuring, intimidating people and exploding property. Gary Joseph Gravelle, also known as Roland Prejean, 52, of New Haven, pleaded guilty in Bridgeport federal court to seven charges related to a series of threats he made and further admitted that he violated the conditions of his supervised release following his earlier federal conviction for sending threatening communications. Specifically, Gravelle pleaded guilty to five counts of maliciously conveying false informati…

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by Zak Failla
Monsey, NY
Police & Fire
Recognize Him? FBI Offers Reward For 'Bomb Carrying' Pomona, Park Ridge Robber Recognize Him? FBI Offers Reward For 'Bomb Carrying' Pomona, Park Ridge Robber
Recognize Him? FBI Offers Reward For 'Bomb Carrying' Pomona, Park Ridge Robber The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man who they said robbed banks in Pomona and Park Ridge earlier this year by claiming to have a bomb. In the earlier holdup, the robber held up a Chase Bank branch in the Pacesetter Shopping Center on Route 202 in Pomona on Jan. 24 while carrying a box that he claimed contained explosives, the FBI said. The FBI said he “specifically demanded cash secured in the back of the bank,” then “exited through the back with an undisclosed amount of money.” The same robber made off with what autho…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Mount Pleasant, NY
Police & Fire
FBI Warning Issued After Fake Explosives Are Found In Parking Lots Of Area Stores FBI Warning Issued After Fake Explosives Are Found In Parking Lots Of Area Stores
FBI Warning Issued After Fake Explosives Are Found In Parking Lots Of Area Stores Fake explosives were found in parking lots of busy area stores during the weekend, prompting a warning from the FBI. The fake devices were placed in public areas in Orange County around the town of Newburgh, including the parking lot of the Newburgh Mall. "FBI New York and the Newburgh Police Department are investigating several fake, inert explosive devices placed in public areas around the city," The FBI said in a statement posted Sunday afternoon, May 26. "The recovered devices do not pose a threat to public safety.  "Do not attempt to pick up any device, if dIscovered. Call 911. …

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by Joe Lombardi
Massapequa, NY
Police & Fire
House Fire Leads To Duo's Arrests For Setting Off, Selling Fireworks In Levittown House Fire Leads To Duo's Arrests For Setting Off, Selling Fireworks In Levittown
House Fire Leads To Duo's Arrests For Setting Off, Selling Fireworks In Levittown A house fire led to the arrest of a Levittown man and a teen after fireworks were found to be the cause of the fire. The fire took place around 4:20 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, at 277 Blacksmith Road in Levittown, said the Nassau County Police. According to detectives, police were responding to a call for a house fire and arrived on scene the house in flames. Police confirmed there were no residents inside. The Levittown and Wantagh Fire Departments responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. Arson and Bomb Squad investigators were called to the scene where it was discovere…

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by Kathy Reakes
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Police & Fire
Feds Charge Morris County Ex-Con With Building, Exploding Bomb Feds Charge Morris County Ex-Con With Building, Exploding Bomb
Feds Charge Morris County Ex-Con With Building, Exploding Bomb Federal agents arrested a Morris County man who they said built and exploded a bomb. Christopher Faschan, a 31-year-old ex-con from Landing, remained in custody Thursday pending an appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in Newark. He is charged with possessing several “explosive/destructive devices,” as well as precursor materials, and with being a felon in possession of explosive materials, firearms and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Fashon showed the bomb to an unidentified woman on Feb. 1 in Stanhope, then detonated it at Lake Lackawanna, Carpenito said. “That’s some…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Police & Fire
Landing Man Showed Woman Bomb Before Detonating It Near Lake, Prosecutor Says Landing Man Showed Woman Bomb Before Detonating It Near Lake, Prosecutor Says
Landing Man Showed Woman Bomb Before Detonating It Near Lake, Prosecutor Says A Landing man was arrested after showing a woman a homemade bomb and then driving to a nearby lake to detonate it, said authorities who charged him. Christopher Faschan, 31 of the Landing section of Roxbury, drove to the victim's home and showed her the bomb, saying it was the type that "you could stick to the bottom of a car," Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch said in a statement. Faschan drove to Lake Lackawanna where he detonated the device -- either near or in the lake, authorities said. The explosion was heard by the alleged victim and multiple residents of the …

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by Cecilia Levine
Fairfield, CT
Police & Fire
Drugs, Guns, Explosives Found At Home Near School, State Police Say Drugs, Guns, Explosives Found At Home Near School, State Police Say
Drugs, Guns, Explosives Found At Home Near School, State Police Say A task force serving a search warrant uncovered an extensive marijuana grow house in addition to a plethora of guns, and explosives, all at a home near a school  The Connecticut State Police Narcotics Task Force, along with the East Windsor Police Department and DEA agents, raided the home of Mark Edward Betancourt, 45, of East Windsor, on Thursday, said state police officials. A search of the home turned up a sophisticated grow operation that included 193 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, 1,153 grams of processed marijuana, numerous marijuana seeds, grow equipment, scales, and …

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by Kathy Reakes