Police Arrest Man for Allegedly Trying to Drown His 2 Young Children at Connecticut Beach

A New York man was arrested this weekend for allegedly trying to drown his two children on a beach in Connecticut.

The West Haven Police Department said in a social media post on Saturday, June 22, that an officer spotted a Nissan SUV parked at a local beach and “heard significant screaming coming from the water” around 2:31 a.m. local time.

Responding to the cries, the officer saw a man and two small children in the water. As the officer approached them, the man began “moving further away with the children while screaming at the responding officers to ‘back off,'” West Haven police said.

The man, later identified as 41-year-old Romney Desronvil of Queens, “deliberately strangled his children,” police said.

“Officers immediately entered the water and were nearly 100 meters from shore at the time. Other officers on scene joined members of the West Shore Fire Department and entered the water using the West Shore Fire Boat,” the police department continued, adding that the first officer was able to “capture” the children and take them ashore with the help of others.

The children were then taken to a local hospital and police took “life-saving measures”.

Dad saves two-year-old daughter from drowning, recalls holding her limp body and praying

Police sirens.

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Citing Saturday’s press conference, a local newspaper New Haven Register reported that Police Chief Joseph Perno said Desronvil is expected to be charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of risk of bodily harm, and the incident remains under investigation.

“Without a doubt, the quick response of our patrol officers saved the lives of these children,” the department said. “Communication and cooperative efforts by the West Shore Fire Department and ultimately the New Haven Police Department allowed for immediate medical attention and also the arrest of Desronville.”

In a press conference shared by CT Insider, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer credited the “courageous work of our officers” for their response.

“These two kids had guardian angels this morning, and the names of their guardian angels were Officer Williamson and Officer Miller,” she said, calling their efforts “truly outstanding.”

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According to New Haven Register, the mayor said that the children seem to be improving, as Chief Perno added that they are both under 3 years old. Perno also reportedly shared that their mother was in New York at the time of the alleged drowning attempt and had arrived in New Haven by Saturday afternoon.

West Shore Fire Chief Stephen Scafariello added during the press conference that firefighters, EMS and paramedics “went right to work” with the children upon arrival. He said it was 22 minutes from the time they were dispatched to the time the children received care at the hospital.

“I would like to personally commend our firefighters who transported both patients in our rescue truck,” Scafariello said. “They provided the highest level of care.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education