Norwich police arrest two in connection with Sunday stabbing

Stonington — Police say they charged a 40-year-old Mystic woman Tuesday with reporting that she had been the victim of a September home invasion in Mystic that never happened.

Nicole B. Fustini, 40, of 171 Hewitt Road was charged with falsely reporting an incident and second-degree making a false statement after police obtained a warrant for her arrest. She was released on a promise to appear in court Nov. 22.

Police responded to her home on Sept. 10 at 10:12 a.m. after she reported a home invasion. She was then taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Two days later, police announced that their investigation had revealed Fustini’s report had been false. Police at the time did not identify Fustini.

Police did not release any other details Tuesday about the incident, such as Fustini’s motivation for reporting a home invasion. The warrant was not immediately available Tuesday afternoon.

Capt. Todd Olson said the report resulted in the use of a large amount of police, fire and emergency medical resources, including several days of investigation by detectives and officers. St., Norwich, was charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault, and Shamon Sharpley, 20, of 154 Prospect St., Apt. 2, Norwich, was charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree assault, a Norwich Police Department news release said.

Norwich police were dispatched for the report of possible shots fired in the area of 235 Broad St. shortly before 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, the release said. When they arrived, they found Johnson suffering from multiple cuts to his hand, the release said.

Police learned no shots had been fired, but an assault involving Johnson and two other men had taken place near Lake and Broad streets. Officers then found out from state police that the Colchester Fire Department was answering a call about a victim with a knife wound, the release said.

The Norwich Police Department Detective Division and officers learned that the 19-year-old male stabbing victim from Colchester had gone with a female friend to an area of Lake Road to buy marijuana.

When the victim was attempting to buy drugs, Johnson and Sharpley allegedly stole cash from the victim and fled, the release said. The victim then chased the two down to get his money back and was assaulted, the release said.

The victim was treated and released from The William W. Backus Hospital for minor injuries, including a minor stab wound. burglarized a Center Street home and used a “cutting-type instrument” to injure the homeowner, according to police.

Police said they were called to 15 Center St. at 3:16 p.m. Monday for a burglary in progress. Dispatchers informed responding officers that the homeowner and several neighbors had detained the suspect, later identified as 37-year-old Henry Mercado.

According to police, it was the second reported burglary at the residence in as many days. Police haven’t yet identified a suspect in the first burglary but actively are working on the case.

Police said the incident began when the homeowner and a witness saw Mercado on the property and confronted him. Mercado allegedly threatened the owner with the cutting-type instrument and a struggle ensued. Both parties sustained lacerations in the incident, which police described as minor.

Mercado, whose last known address is 58 Jefferson Ave., was charged with first-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, second-degree assault, carrying a dangerous weapon and second-degree threatening.

Held on a $50,000 bond, he was to be arraigned Tuesday in New London Superior Court.

Records show Mercado also has a pending case out of Groton City, where police charged him July 10 with engaging police in pursuit and illegal possession of a weapon in a vehicle, among other things. He was released from custody in that case after posting a $10,000 nonsurety bond. a minivan and a scooter left the scooter operator with multiple injuries Tuesday morning, according to police.

Officers were called to the intersection of Huntington Street and Governor Winthrop Boulevard at 8:53 a.m. to attend to the wreck. From witness interviews and other information gathered at the scene, police determined the crash happened when the minivan made a left turn in front of the oncoming scooter.

Crews took the male scooter operator to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, where he was being treated for scrapes, lacerations and a possible foot injury. Police didn’t know his exact status Tuesday morning.

Officers cited the minivan driver for failure to grant right of way to oncoming traffic. The driver’s name has not yet been released.