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    Monday, May 13, 2024

    North Stonington woman charged with leaving 'body bags' at state Capitol

    Hartford — State police have arrested two women, including one from North Stonington, and charged them with leaving garbage bags wrapped in duct tape and resembling body bags on state Capitol property.

    Several of the bags, which had signs with the message “EVICTION ” on them, were left behind a vehicle assigned to Gov. Ned Lamont.

    The incident was reported April 1 and resulted in a lockdown at the Capitol while police investigated the contents of the bags. The bags contained clothes and cut up cardboard.

    Police said they found a name and address on one of the pieces of cardboard and connected that name to an individual connected to a Facebook group called Western CT Democratic Socialists.

    Police used surveillance footage and social media posts to make arrests in the case. Erin Melocowsky, 19, of Manchester and Olivia Rinkes, 30, of 37 Pond Drive, North Stonington, were charged with disorderly conduct. Melocowsky was charged Monday and Rinkes was charged Friday. They were released on a $5,000 non surety bond and are scheduled to appear June 28 in Hartford Superior Court.

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