New Canaan police at about 8:20 p.m. Saturday arrested a New Canaan couple following a reported family dispute.
A 72-year-old man and 47-year-old woman were charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor offense, according to police. New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said during an impromptu briefing with radio, TV and print news outlets at the department’s South Avenue headquarters that the incident involved physical violence and “relatively minor injuries.” Asked whether children were home at the time of the incident, the chief said he did not know. He described the arrested couple as low-profile.
New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski addressing nonlocal news outlets at the department's South Avenue headquarters following a high-profile domestic arrest
Police were responding to a hang-up 911 call. Both parties were released on a promise to appear Monday in state Superior Court in Norwalk.
As he said at the most recent meeting of the Police Commission, Krolikowski reiterated New Canaan has seen a “significant increase” in the past four or five months in domestic incidents in New Canaan. Year over year from January, the number of incidents in New Canaan rose from 19 to 32.
Asked to what he attributed the rise—by a TV news reporter who also wondered aloud with a laugh whether it could be “the blood moon”—Krolikowski responded only that it could be because more people are aware of resources out there to help in these situations.
The New Canaan Domestic Violence Partnership has operated in New Canaan for more than 10 years. It’s part of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center which, its website says, is “dedicated to the task of helping you and your children find ways to live your lives in peace, without the threat of violence, intimidation or abuse.” The DVCC can be reached 24 hours per day at 888-774-2900.