Shine a Light
These are dark times, as you know. Is that why Joaquin F. Castillo is alleged to have stolen a flashlight? On April 26, the 36-year-old Hartford resident was arrested at the New Park Avenue Home Depot for stealing a $25 flashlight. As to what Mr. Castillo planned to do with the light, well, we're still in the dark, and, unfortunately, so is he.

The Danger Zone
Don't you kind of feel like if Connecticut motorcyclists aren't required by law to wear helmets, then we, the car-driving public, shouldn't have to face fines and tickets for not wearing seatbelts? And that in a way we're somehow discriminated against by not getting to choose whether or not we want to be safe? And say we do choose to be dangerous and not buckle up, is it fair that we've also got to make sure we don't have any drugs on us? Joshua Vanasse, 32, was pulled over on April 30 for not wearing his seatbelt. But then when the cops searched the Wolcott resident, they also found he was getting his jollies in other ways: Police found small amounts of weed and Vicodin and arrested Vanasse for possession of marijuana and just regular old possession. So remember, pill-poppers and weed-smokers, buckle up. Or get a motorcycle.

Brother Burglar
On Apr. 27, a Wethersfield woman allegedly came home in the afternoon to find her younger brother holding her jewelry box. He didn't drop in to surprise sis with a present: 18-year-old Dondre R. Holden broke into an unlocked first-floor window, and, according to his sister, planned to take some loot. The woman told police that a physical altercation between the two ensued (there were no injuries), ending by Holden throwing the jewelry box and running off. The sister reportedly called Wethersfield police, who showed up quickly, caught Holden and slapped him with second-degree burglary, second-degree larceny and third-degree robbery charges.

Cuckoo for Catalytic Converters
Back in October of 2008, Gary Gaudet tried to saw the catalytic converter off a car at A&M Auto in East Hartford and, in the process, fell asleep. Then, last week, the 51-year-old tried stealing another catalytic converter, this time at Asian Motors, one quarter-mile away from the previous attempt on Tolland Street. He fell asleep again, this time forever. While Gaudet hacksawed, the Ford Windstar minivan slipped off the jack and landed on his face and chest, killing him, East Hartford police believe. The owner of Asian Motors called police after finding Gaudet under the van at 9:28 a.m. on April 30. The Medical Examiners Office in Farmington informed the Advocate that the cause of death was compression and asphyxia.

Crackin' on Capen
Capen Street in Hartford's North End was lively during the early hours of May 1. Close to 1 a.m., police got a call that shots were fired at 221 Capen St. Upon arriving they found shell casings and a stolen 1999 Nissan Maxima with bullet holes in the windshield. Police didn't find victims or witnesses. Later, at 6 a.m., police exercised a search and seizure warrant on the first and second floors of 263-265 Capen St. They entered with no incident, found 10 grams of crack cocaine and packaging materials, and arrested 22-year-old Devon Wright with charges of possession of narcotics, possession with intent to sell and possession within 1,500 feet of a public school.

Pistol, Pistol
At 12:47 a.m. on May 3, police received a call about a fight at 91 Babcock St. in Hartford's Frog Hollow neighborhood. When the cruisers arrived, people were fleeing the scene, but the officers received the tip that a young man was seen firing a silver gun in the air several times. Police got a description of the suspect and found him shortly after on Babcock Street. The 17-year-old was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment and carrying a pistol without a permit.

The Sleepy Biker
Bristol police got a call last Saturday afternoon about a man who fell off his bike in Rockwell Park. "It looked like he was unconscious," police later reported. What was certain about 46-year-old Gary Fortier was his fist clutching 40 packs of heroin. Fortier, of Terryville, woke up shortly after police arrived and refused medical treatment. He was charged with possession of narcotics, possession with intent to sell, and possession within 1,500 feet of a school — O'Connell elementary.

Worst of the Worst
When police arrived to 67 Concord St. in Bristol last Saturday night, they found a baby bleeding from the mouth and claims that a 15-year-old had been sexually assaulted. The baby's 19-year-old mother and a 15-year-old girl started fighting with Abraham Clift, 26, over allegations that Clift touched the younger girl inappropriately. That's when the baby was struck by Clift's hand, Bristol police report (the child was not seriously injured). Clift also had been giving beer to the girls that night. His charges are plentiful: second-degree sexual assault, three counts of risk of injury to a minor, disorderly conduct, two counts of delivering alcohol to minors, reckless endangerment and third-degree assault.

All of the information contained in the Advocate's police blotter comes from police reports or officials, or has been shamelessly swiped from other published accounts. Individuals charged have not been independently investigated by the Advocate. All those arrested are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.