Ansonia Police, State Police, FBI probe threat to blow up AMS; nothing found

ANSONIA - The Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted the Ansonia Police Department at about 11:45 a.m. to report they received a complaint that a person threatened to blow up the middle school, Lt. Patrick Lynch said in a release late Friday afternoon. 

After consulting with the Ansonia Board of Education, a decision was made to send home the Pre-K students, all other students were on a remote learning day. 

The decision to send the students home was done out of an abundance of caution. A check of the school inside and out by officers and staff did not reveal anything suspicious. 

Bomb sniffing dogs were also used to check the school and nothing was found.

 

With the assistance of the F.B.I. and Connecticut State Police, all the people involved were located and interviewed. 

The investigation showed there was on ongoing neighbor dispute where one neighbor alleged that during a verbal argument the other neighbor said they were going to blow up the house and middle school. 

The accused neighbor cooperated with the investigation and denied making any statements about blowing up the school. 

No evidence was found to substantiate the initial claim and no arrests have been made.

This is a press release from Lt. Patrick Lynch.

FBI, Police seeking any information about missing Ansonia child

Ansonia detectives, state police return to Myrtle Avenue home

From Ansonia Police Lt. Patrick Lynch:

"No press conference today.

"Ansonia Detectives and Connecticut State Police were back at 6 ½ Myrtle Ave. today doing follow-ups for the investigation into the homicide of Christine Holloway and missing person, Vanessa Morales. 

"There is no other information to release at this time."

Troop 1 barracks in Bethany to remain open, lawmakers credit bipartisanship

From left: Bethany First Selectman Derrylyn Gorski, state Sen. Joseph Crisco, Jr. (D-Woodbridge), State Representative Lezlye Zupkus (R-Prospect) and House Republican Leader Themis Klarides (R-Derby, pose Thursday outside the State Police Troop I barracks on Route 63 in Bethany. / Contributed photo

BETHANY – A bipartisan effort by state and local officials has helped save the potential closing of the State Police Troop I barracks on Route 63, state lawmakers said Thursday.

Assembled on the front lawn of the Troop I barracks, and joined by local leaders just days after the General Assembly voted on a package of budget cuts that did not include the closing of Troop I (as was suggested in September by Gov. Malloy), state Sen. Joseph Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, and state Rep. Lezlye Zupkus, R-Prospect, said they are overjoyed that a bipartisan and concerted effort by Democratic and Republican legislators, town and school officials, parents and others resulted in keeping the Troop I barracks open.

Troop I serves 19 towns in south-central Connecticut, from East Haven to Naugatuck, Shelton to Meriden; the governor’s plan was to redistribute the 60 troopers there to other, regional barracks and to rely on smaller, local police forces, resident state troopers and constables in order to save $1.4 million annually. 

“This was a wonderful example of bipartisanship and state-local cooperation to address a very crucial public safety issue,” Crisco said. “This troop receives 100,000 9-1-1 calls a year.”

“It was universally agreed that this state police barracks is much too valuable to public safety to close,” Klarides said. “I want to thank my colleagues in the House and Senate, both Republicans and Democrats, and the governor, for coming together to protect this vital community and regional resource.”

“We fought very hard to keep this barracks open," Zupkus said. “These troopers are an invaluable asset to public safety, not just in Bethany, but to the entire region.”

Crisco, Klarides, and Zupkus joined together Nov. 19 to issue a statement voicing their opposition to the planned closure and urging residents to contact the governor’s office.

“I was very, very pleased that everybody came together,” Bethany First Selectman Derrylyn Gorski said. “Everyone recognized that public safety is a priority, and that Troop I needs to stay here.”

“I am so grateful for the support that our government leaders showed in keeping this barracks open,” said Bethany Superintendent of Schools Colleen Murphy.

This is a press release from Crisco's office.