6-Ft-Long Boa D.O.A., 3 Arrested on Drug Charges, 1 Stabbing

Boa constrictor: six feet long

A six-foot-long boa constrictor was found Monday morning on the street at the intersection of New Canaan Avenue and Lloyd Road.

The snake, which was dead by the time it was reported it to police animal control officers, was first thought to be a python hit by a car. Animal control officers identified it as a boa constrictor, however, and saw no indication that it had been run over by a vehicle.

It may have died from dehdration, since the skin was shedding, according to a snake expert called in by animal control officers.

Arrested on drug charges: three men

An officer on patrol in the parking lot at Colonial Village Apartments early Monday evening saw three males who appeared to be suspicious. Since the public housing complex has "no trespassing" signs, the officer asked them what they were doing there.

Police gave this account of the incident, which began at 6:52 p.m. and resulted in the arrests of all three men:

All three said they had a friend who lives at the complex, but they coldn't provide the friend's name or tell police where he lived.

When asked for identification, two had it on them, but one, Ian Collins, 37, of New Haven, went to rummage around his car, looking for it. A police officer with him saw several almost-empty glassine bags with the remains of what appeared to be marijuana "blunts."

The police officer also reported that Collins appeared to be confused, and an ambient odor of fresh marijuana was in the air around the car. Collins told police he had just smoked some marijuana.

On further investigation, officers also found in the car at least one glassine bag containing a white, powdery substance with several clumps in it. Police officers from the special services unit later arrived at the scene and tested the substance, which was determined to be cocaine.

In a cigarette box, five glassine envelopes of marijuana were also found. Collins also had $300 in his pocket.

Another of the three men, Jason Hall, 35, of Soundview Avenue in Bridgeport, had a bag of marijuana in his sock and another in his wallet.

The two men, along with Ross Hassaan, 36, of 78 Marlin Dr., were charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of narcotics, sale of narcotics, sale of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school, criminal trespass and conspiracy.

Stabbing: once to the chest

A 16-year-old was stabbed in the chest sometime before 2:16 a.m. Tuesday when Norwalk Hospital emergency department personnel reported the incident to police.

The victim's description of what happened made police skeptical about the details, said Sgt. Lisa Cotto, a spokeswoman for the Norwalk Police Department. This is the account police gave of the victim's statements and their investigation:

The victim said he had walked a friend to the South Norwalk Metro-North station and was walking back home when he cut through the Benjamin Franklin School grounds. There he was approached by two males, one of whom had dredlocks covering his face. The two attacked the victim, with the dredlocked attacker stabbing him.

The victim fled toward Clay Street, although Cotto pointed out that he lives on Taylor Avenue, which was in a different direction. On Clay Street, the victim said, he saw someone he knew, a "Chris" whose last name the victim could not remember. Chris then called another friend to take the victim to Norwalk Hospital for treatment.

The victim said he couldn't remember anything about the male who took him to the hospital, not even what race the driver was.

Police investigating the incident could find no evidence of a crime scene on Clay Street, at Ben Franklin School or at the railroad station.

A female on Clay Street told police that her friend, a boy named Junie (whose full name she does not know; nor does she know his address), called someone to help the victim get to the hospital.

"There are many inconsistencies to the story, and if anyone has information, please call the police hotline," Cotto said. The Norwalk police tipline (or "hotline") can be reached at 203-854-3111.