Hawk Swoops Down on Fairfield Ludlowe Student [UPDATED]

[Editor's Note: Arrest information is supplied by the Fairfield Police Department. It does not indicate convictions.]

[Editor's Note, Part II: Jan. 25 -- The hawk piece has been updated. This article was originally published on Jan. 20. The publication date was changed for layout purposes.]

Updated, Jan. 25

Police and Animal Control personnel have located the red-tailed hawk's nest on Fairfield Ludlowe High School ground, according to the police department's website.

The police are working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, to moniter the nest. According to the release on the site, the hawk cannot be removed unless it poses a serious risk to people. It has reportedly swooped down on two other students in addition to the incident below. Only one attack resulted in minor injuries, police said.

Any questions about the hawk can be directed to , the Connecticut Audobon Society, or the Beardsley Zoo.

Original, Jan. 20

A student’s head was the site of a surprise landing made by a red-tailed hawk on Thursday, police said.

An administrator witnessed the big bird swoop down on the student, who was uninjured, Police Chief Gary MacNamara said.

Deputy Chief Chris Lyddy said animal control and police searched the vicinity for a hawk nest, but could not find one.

There have been several complaints and red-tailed hawk sightings in the area, but a nest has not been located to date, Lyddy said.

Should animal control or police find a nest, they will work in conjunction with the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to relocate the birds, MacNamara said.

Red-tailed hawks have an average wingspan of 45 to 52 inches.

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A Bridgeport woman and an Easton woman were arrested on Thursday after allegedly attempting to cash a stolen check, police said.

Abigail Palmer, 23, of Bridgeport, and Jacqueline Bastien, 23, of Easton, reportedly stole a check from Bastien’s stepmother and tried to cash it for $375 at on Black Rock Turnpike, MacNamara said.

Responding officers also found that Palmer had in her possession a syringe and other drug paraphernalia, according to the report.

Both women were charged with sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit the crime. Palmer was charged with possession of rug paraphernalia, according to the report.

The two women were released on a written promise to appear in court on Jan. 30.

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Police are investigating an occurrence of drugs left in a rental car that was returned to this month.

A manager at Hertz reported to police on Thursday that a 2012 Mazda that was loaned out on Jan. 5 was returned, filthy, and sent to be cleaned, MacNamara said. When the car returned from being cleaned, Hertz employees found a baggie with white powder, which tested positive for PCP, according to the report.

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A Round Hill Road resident ended up with two vehicles in his yard on Thursday after a car accident that occurred at the intersection of Barlow Road and Round Hill Road, police said.

The operator of one vehicle drove through a stop sign at the intersection of Barlow and Round Hill and struck another vehicle waiting to go north on Round Hill Road, according to the report.

The vehicle that was struck spun around and ended up in a Round Hill Road resident’s yard, police said. The first vehicle struck the house.

Police said the first operator may have had a medical condition. She was transported to St. Vincent’s Medical Center; the other driver appeared uninjured, according to the report.

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A Bridgeport man was arrested on Thursday and charged with sixth-degree larceny after he allegedly attempted to shoplift $102 worth of merchandise from on Kings Highway Cutoff, police said.

Beijon Oldham, 20, reportedly tried to leave the supermarket without paying for his steak, vegetables, and chips, MacNamara said.

He was released on a promise to appear in court on Jan. 27.

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reported on Thursday that two customers paid for merchandise with counterfeit bills the day prior, police said.

A purchase totaling $434 and a $330 purchase were made with counterfeit bills, according to the report.

This is under investigation.

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A Pepperbush Lane resident allegedly attempted to shoplift $133 worth of merchandise from the Kings Highway Cutoff Stop and Shop, police said.

Margaret Doe, 66, was charged with sixth-degree larceny after she reportedly walked out of the store with a cart full of food, according to the report.

She was released on a promise to appear in court on Jan. 27.

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A employee reported on Thursday that a customer’s car was broken into and the vehicle’s radio faceplate was stolen sometime in the last week, police said.

The radio faceplate of the 2003 Subaru Forrester is valued at $200, MacNamara.

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A Bridgeport man allegedly caused a stir at the Seagrape early Friday when he refused to leave, police said.

Adam Maiorano, 27, was charged with first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree criminal mischief, and breach of peace after he refused to leave the bar, was escorted outside, and then reportedly punched the door, breaking a window, according to the report.

It will cost $350 to replace the window, police said. Maiorano was released on a $250 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 3.

***

A Bridgeport man was arrested on Thursday after police conducted a traffic stop on Black Rock Turnpike due to a loud muffler on the man’s car, police said.

Police found 10.2 grams of marijuana, 94 plastic baggies, a scale, and smoking material in Jonathan Villa’s car, MacNamara said.

Villa, 19, was charged with possession with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana, police said.

He was released on a $50 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 31.