In December, I was forwarded an email about two early morning residential burglaries in Woodbridge, CT. I followed up by asking the Woodbridge Police to send copies of their press releases to me. They declined the request, so I brought it up at the next Police Commission meeting. At the meeting, Woodbridge Police Chief Gene Marcucci informed the commission and me that they would start placing their press releases on the Woodbridge Police Department website.

I suggested that it might be easier and more timely if the press releases could be sent out via to the town email system to interested journalists and residents, and I still hope that they will consider that. Since that date, I have frequently checked the Woodbridge Police Department website. Over a month has gone by since the previous press release had been issued. However, today, I was pleased to find a press release dated January 27th.

The press release announced the arrest of James C. Hamilton, aged 30, of 68 Sylvan Avenue, New Haven, CT. The press release states that “Working with investigators from both the New Haven Police Dept. and the East Haven Police Dept., Woodbridge Police detectives were able to link Hamilton to these burglaries and were able to recover items stolen from both homes.”

A quick search of the CT Judicial Branch website lists two cases with a James Hamilton as a defendant. One appears to be from the Woodbridge Police Department arrest, listing eight felonies and two misdemeanors which occurred on December 17th. Another case with a James Hamilton listed as the defendant is from the East Haven Police, on December 18th, including possession of narcotics. Both cases will have their next day in court on Feb 3rd. The court website also shows thirteen convictions of a James Hamilton from 2001 to 2007.

It is good to know that the suspect in the burglaries is in custody, that items that had been stolen have been recovered. It is especially good to know that the Woodbridge Police Department is making information about the arrest available to any journalist or resident that is interested.

(Cross-posted at the Woodbridge Citizen.)