Dispute Over Dog Custody; Teen Charged with Setting Library Fires

A 15-year-old Greenwich boy has been arrested on charges in connection with two small fires set at Greenwich Library in December, according to Greenwich Police.

The incidents – which did not cause any damage to the library at 101 W. Putnam Ave. – occurred at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 11 and at about 3:30 p.m. Dec. 13, police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray said.

“He was in an area he wasn’t supposed to be,” Gray said. “It was a third-floor office area. He was seen by a librarian who smelled smoke.” He also said there was video surveillance that showed the teen in that area of the library. “There was evidence of a fire … burning papers,” Gray said.

The boy, who was not identified because of his age, surrendered Feb. 3 to police who obtained an arrest warrant Jan. 25 from the Juvenile Matters division of state Superior Court in Stamford. He faces two counts of reckless burning, a felony. He was released in the custody of a parent, police said. He is scheduled to appear Feb. 15 in juvenile court.

A library spokeswoman referred all questions to Greenwich Police.

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A Cos Cob man was arrested Sunday afternoon in connection with a dispute with his ex-wife over the custody of a pet dog.

Police said the dispute occurred at and caught the attention of several park visitors who called police. “Upon arrival it was determined that Frederick Allardt attempted to physically take a canine from his ex-wife. Allardt felt as if the canine was his and that his ex-wife of four years was keeping said canine from him,” the officer wrote in his report.

Allardt, 52, of 78 River Road, was issued a misdemeanor summons for breach of peace and scheduled to appear Monday in state Superior Court in Stamford.

The breed of the dog was not noted by police.

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A 19-year-old Greenwich man was arrested on charges of threatening, breach of peace and simple trespass in connection with an incident involving a former girlfriend.

According to the police report, the former girlfriend reported receiving several text messages indicating the suspect “was going to come to her home with a baseball bat and make it the worst night of her life.” When police arrived at her home at 11:45  a.m. Feb. 3, they found the ex-boyfriend sitting outside the residence.

Davio Caridi, of 32 Cutler Road, was released after posting $1,000 bond and was scheduled to appear Feb. 4 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

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Peter Halka, 58, of 17 Roseville Road, Westport, was arrested on second-degree criminal trespass and third-degree burglary charges in connection with the theft of jewelry from a family home last July.

According to police, Halka, who is estranged from his family and did not have permission to enter the family home, was released on a promise to appear Feb. 11 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

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A man whom police described as a former partner of Greenwich Prime Meats was arrested Feb. 4 in connection with harassing and threatening telephone calls made to the business at 100 Bruce Park Ave.

According to police James Dadio, 41, of 50 Alvord Lane, Stamford, was charged with threatening, second-degree harassment an disorderly conduct. Police said they determined the calls were made from Dadio’s phone. He surrendered to police shortly before midnight Feb. 3.

Dadio was released after posting $1,000 bond and scheduled to appear Feb. 11 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

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Four Stamford teens were charged with alcohol and marijuana possession after Greenwich Police say they found the group on Arther Street at about 10:20 p.m. Friday.

One teen was found to have Remy Martin champagne cognac, another had plastic cup half-filled with Absolut Raspberry vodka, and Shane Kovach, 20, of 36 Campbell Drive, had a bottle of Budweiser beer. All three were charged with possession of alcohol by a minor and released on a promise to appear Feb. 25 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

The fourth teen was charged with possession of marijuana under four ounces and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said the teen had rolling papers and a small glassine bag with a green leafy substance that tested positive for marijuana. He was released on a promise to appear Feb. 11 in court.