Public Safety
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Police: Two Men Charged with Trespassing at Darien Train Station, One Charged Twice

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A 25-year-old Norwalk man and a New York City man, 43, got into a dispute starting at Darien Railroad Station and continuing or reviving at Tilley Pond Park, across the street, Darien police said. Each man was charged on Sunday, Aug. 24, with first-degree criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor. Police gave this additional account of the matter, including accusations not proven in court:

Six days earlier, on Monday, Aug. 18, the Norwalk man had been charged with third-degree criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor, after he was found asleep on a bench at the train station at 8:15 p.m. He had been told repeatedly, earlier in the day, not to return to the station.

Darien Driving Under the Influence 2025
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Police: DUI for Man, 44, Found Asleep Behind the Wheel of Vehicle Stopped on the Road at 2:31 AM

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A vehicle that was stopped but still running and with the gear in drive had an intoxicated driver asleep behind the wheel, Darien police said. Police gave this further account, including accusations not proven in court:

Police responded at 2:31 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 24 to a report of the stopped vehicle at 2:31 a.m. at or near the intersection of Hollow Tree Road and Ox Ridge Lane. The man in the driver’s seat, a 44-year-old resident of Carroll Street in the Springdale section of Stamford, showed signs of impairment. He couldn’t adequately complete standardized field sobriety tests, so he was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

Public Safety
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Police: Man, 29, Arrested After Sending Threatening, Harrassing Messages to Former Boss

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A 29-year-old man was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 16 after sending threatening messages sent to a former employer in Darien, police said. This further account from Darien police includes accusations not proven in court:

On Friday, the employer met with police and showed them screenshots and voice messages from Michael Rybl of Strawberry Avenue in Stamford. The screenshots and voicemail escalated from innocuous to threatening. Stamford police helped in locating Rybl, who was arrested without incident.

Back to School 2025

CT Officials: Tips to Avoid Getting Scammed When Shopping for Back-to-School Items

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Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli are warning Connecticut families and students to be on the lookout for potential scams during the back-to-school shopping season, particularly when shopping online. — an announcement from the Governor’s Office

“Consumers should always be mindful anytime they shop and wary of bad actors who are trying to take advantage of them, especially during busy shopping seasons like the back-to-school period,” Governor Lamont said. “Connecticut offers many protections for consumers, and we encourage everyone to know your rights and protect yourselves.”

“August creates a shopping frenzy for back-to-school supplies, from elementary school backpacks to college textbooks and dorm essentials, and unfortunately scammers will look to capitalize off last-minute shoppers seeking high-demand products,” Commissioner Cafferelli said. “The safest thing families can do is shop in-person, Cafferelli said. “Inspect or test out the item, keep your receipts, and clarify the store’s return policy.

Public Safety
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Jeep Stolen Overnight on Bittersweet Lane, Other Vehicles Entered Overnight Two Days Before That

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A Jeep Grand Cherokee was stolen overnight last week on Bittersweet Lane, and elsewhere in town, on a different night last week, vehicles were entered overnight, resulting in at least one theft, Darien police said. All the vehicles were unlocked. Police gave this account of the incidents:

The Grand Cherokee was stolen overnight Saturday to Sunday, Aug. 9 to 10. The keys to the vehicle were “possibly inside” it, police said in a news release.

Public Safety
Roses placed 9/11 Memorial ceremony

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony Coming Next Month at the Memorial Behind Middlesex School

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Darien’s September 11th Memorial Observation Ceremony will start at 8:25 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 11 and last 35 minutes at the town’s 9/11 monument behind Middlesex Middle School. The town Monuments and Ceremonies Commission invites you to participate. The ceremony, taking place 24 years since the massacres in 2001, will be at the town’s 9/11 Monument, located in the courtyard behind Middlesex Middle School on Hollow Tree Ridge Road. Since the date this year falls on Thursday, school will be in session, and those attending the event are asked to park in the rear lot.

Darien Shoplifting 2025
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Police: Lululemon Store Shoplifters’ Getaway Car Stopped in Westchester County, Four Arrested

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Two thieves were seen stuffing garbage bags with merchandise at the Lululemon athletic apparel store in Noroton Heights on Monday, Aug. 4, but the vehicle they fled in was stopped and the suspects were arrested, police said. Darien police gave this further account, including accusations not proven in court:

The suspects were seen stealing the merchandise shortly before 3:07 p.m. at the store, located in the Darien Commons development off of Heights Road. The pair fled in a black Nissan Sentra with Virginia license plates. Two other people were also in the car.

Emergency Alert System
Town Emergency Management Department Alerts 06820

Town Switching to New Emergency Alert System on July 1. If You Want to Receive Alerts, Register.

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Town officials are switching providers for Darien’s townwide emergency alert system on July 1. To keep receiving the alerts, residents will need to register with the new provider. — an announcement from the Darien Emergency Management Department

Darien currently uses CodeRed for the town-wide Emergency Alert System. This has always been an OPT-IN alert system used to notify residents with critical information in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures or other emergencies. Effective July 1, 2025, CodeRed will no longer be available.

Credit Card Theft 2025
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Police: Man, 30, Stole Credit Cards from a YMCA Locker, Then Used Them to Charge $11,206 at a Store

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A 30-year-old man arrested on an accusation he stole money and credit cards from a man’s locker at the Darien YMCA is “linked to similar crimes across multiple states,” Darien police said. Police gave this account, including accusations not proven in court:

The theft was reported to police on March 7. It involved $500 in cash and two credit cards. The cards were used to buy an item or items at the Saks Fifth Avenue store in Greenwich, where a total of $11,206 was charged to the credit card accounts. A police investigation which included surveillance recordings led to identifying the suspect, Alende Olteanu of the Woodside section of Queens, New York.

Public Safety
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Police: Man, 34, Drove at Twice the Legal Intoxication Level on West Avenue

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After Stamford police notified police in Darien that a driver in a traffic accident had fled into Darien on West Avenue, driving erratically in a Toyota Rav4. Town police later charged the 34-year-old man with driving while intoxicated. Darien police gave this account of what happened, including accusations not proven in court:

At about 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, officers located the SUV traveling on West Avenue and stopped it at the intersection with Old Parish Road. Police saw that the driver, a Stamford resident, had glassy, bloodshot eyes and an unsteady gait. Open beer cans and empty alcohol containers were found in the vehicle.

Education
Darien High School DHS 9-13-16

Racist Graffiti Found in Two School Bathrooms, This Time at Darien High School

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Graffiti described as “discriminatory, racial and hateful language” was found Wednesday in two Darien High School bathrooms, school district officials said. “We are confident that this was the act of a small group of students, and it is being thoroughly investigated,” DHS Principal Ellen Dunn said in an announcement to students Thursday morning. “Serious consequences will follow for those involved.” Schools Superintendent Alan Addley excerpted Dunn’s comments in his own announcement to families and staff Thursday evening, adding, “The administration, along with the Darien Police Department, are actively investigating the matter, and appropriate consequences will be applied.” The incidents have occurred much more often at Middlesex Middle School.

Darien Identity Theft 2025
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Woman, 64, Accused of Stealing $10,000 from a Darien Nursing Home Resident

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A 64-year-old woman stole a credit card from a person living at the Residence at Selleck’s Woods, and charged more than $10,000 with the card. After an extensive police investigation, she was arrested last week, Darien police said. The director of the assisted living residence told police on Jan. 2 that a resident’s American Express card had been stolen. The victim told police that unauthorized charges had been made on the card to businesses or organizations in  multiple states, including New York and Colorado.

Darien Emergency Management Department
Town Hall

Darien Seeks Up to 25 Volunteers for Times When Emergency Shelters Are Needed in Town

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The Darien Emergency Management Department is seeking up to 25 residents to volunteer when an emergency shelter is required in Darien. The volunteers would provide assistance with all aspects of shelter operations. — an announcement from the Town of Darien Newsletter

Volunteers for the emergency preparedness team must be Darien residents living locally and readily available to be in a shelter should an emergency or disaster occur. Shelter operation responsibilities can include checking on people in need of shelter, tracking attendance, assisting with food service, receiving and monitoring supplies, assisting with security and helping with additional needs that arise. The volunteers will be required to attend a two hours of training in sheltering operations (date to be determined).

Education
Middlesex Middle School wikipedia 5-25-16

Schools Superintendent: ‘Written Racial Slur’ Number Three at Middlesex Middle School

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For the third time in a week, a written racial slur was found at Middlesex Middle School, schools Superintendent Alan Addley said Friday afternoon in an email sent to staff and families of students. Addley’s announcement didn’t say where the writing was found, what the racial slur is or even whether it was in the form of graffiti. Addley mentioned the slur only in the first paragraph of a five-paragraph message that also discussed other topics. Darienite.com’s coverage of the other two incidents:
• Schools Superintendent: Another Racial Slur Found at Middlesex Middle School (Wednesday, May 21)
• More Racial Slur Graffiti Found in Middlesex Bathroom: Superintendent Urges Parents to Talk to Their Kids (Friday, May 16)

Full Text of the Message
Dear Families and Staff,
In the span of a week, Middlesex Middle School has experienced three incidents involving written racial slurs, two previously reported and another discovered yesterday. While these repeated acts are deeply disconcerting, they only strengthen our determination to confront hate and to continue fostering a school environment rooted in respect, empathy, and inclusion.