BREAKING NEWS: Human Trafficking Arrests in Greenwich

August 2, 2009 — Greenwich Police, responding to a brawl at the Riverside Common “Thruway” Shopping Center on East Putnam off Exit 5 on the Connecticut Turnpike late this morning, came upon what is believed to be a human-trafficking operation and a kidnap-ransom payment and attempted victim rescue.  Reports are that the victims were en route to Willimantic, CT.  Details are sketchy, and GPD has handed over the investigation to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or “I.C.E.”

The Greenwich Time is reporting that it was a kidnapping ransom taking place, but that the victims’ family came from Willimantic armed with baseball bats to thwart the kidnappers and free their relatives.  One police source told OurGreenwich.com that there were several ransom payments made en route from Maryland.  The kidnapping apparently occurred in Texas.

The public was able to hear the drama unfold live over the new Internet police scanner at Tom Alessi’s Internet website “ScanGreenwich.com.” There were reports on the scanner-channel of over 20 people — suspects and victims — being taken by GPD into custody, transported in the police van or “paddy wagon.”  Police calmly put out an inter-agency bulletin looking for two pick-up trucks with Ohio plates, a van with Maryland plates and the cab of an “18-wheeler” with Texas plates.  At one point, the police dispatcher used the phrase “D.O.A.” — commonly used for “dead on arrival” — but police sources could not confirm a death associated with this incident.

One person of interest, a heavy-set man with a goatee, was seen by a witness in the Walgreen’s parking lot, next to a Ford F-150 pick-up truck with Ohio plates and with a second man.  While the goateed was taken into custody, the other man apparently remained at large.  He was described as Hispanic, about 5′8″ with light brown, almost blond hair, wearing jeans and a tee-shirt.  Police investigated reports of that man being at the Riverside McDonald’s, Sabatiello’s Restaurant in Riverside, and the Mobil station on Sheephill Road, to no avail.

At another point, police on the scene asked headquarters for extra hand-cuffs, as many officers used all the cuffs they had with them.  The mass of people involved, suspects and victims, presented a bit of a logistical problem for police who are cramped in there old building.  (The new police headquarters will be fully functional in September.)  Police were forced to use the officers’ lounge, briefing area and an adjoining conference room to question those involved.

COMMENTARY: As I listened to this “reality show” live over my computers speakers on the ScanGreenwich.com, I was struck by two things.

First, the professionalism of the officers involved on the scene and at the headquarters was remarkable.  All officers were calm, businesslike, rational, and sharply efficient.  They were alert.  (For example, when a car entered the parking lot and immediately exited upon seeing police, an aware GPD officer followed the car to Dunkin Donuts in the Hub — Cos Cob — until his compatriots were able to back him up and to run down the vehicle on the police computers.)  The on-site commander, veteran Sgt. Jeff Moran, served as a field marshal, and at “mission control” at Police headquarters was Sgt. Brent Reeves.  They deployed patrol units, gathered and shared information, and at one point determined the Chief should be notified.

The second thing that struck me was the wisdom of Chief Ridberg’s decision NOT to encrypt all police radio transmissions (reported here first on June 29).  As a direct result of that decision, and the easy availability of those broadcasts at the Tom Alessi website mentioned above, a Good Samaritan was made aware of the search for pick-up trucks with Ohio plates, and alerted GPD to such a vehicle in the Walgreen’s parking lot.  The truck, apparently with weapons inside, was impounded by GPD, and a goateed person-of-interest who was with the pick-up was taken into custody.