Ex-Griebel campaign chief accused of theft

NORWALK — Gubernatorial candidate Oz Griebel’s former campaign manager was arrested Monday and charged in connection with the theft of half a million dollars from his employer, a Norwalk marketing company, over a two-year period.

Kyle Lyddy, 31, of Danbury, resigned from his campaign post Monday citing “personal reasons,” said Chris Cooper, who has assumed campapign manager duties for Griebel.

“The allegations all center on his former employer. It has nothing to do with our campaign. Our concern is, obviously, with the campaign and being able to move forward expeditiously,” Cooper said.

Police said Lyddy had been under investigation by the department’s fraud unit since August, when his employer alerted detectives to suspicious activity.

Lyddy worked for Match Marketing Group, which has offices on Connecticut Avenue.

Lyddy was charged with firstdegree larceny.

He was released after posting $100,000 bond, and he is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court on Sept. 19.

Before serving as the campaign manager for the independent candidate for governor, Lyddy ran for state representative in Newtown’s 106th District in 2016. Lyddy — who owns homes in Danbury and Newtown according to records — ultimately fell short to Eva Bermudez Zimmerman in the Democratic

primary. His brother, Chris Lyddy, held the seat from 2008 to 2012.

In the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Lyddy emerged as an emotional leader in Newtown. He was an active member of “We Are Newtown,” a group dedicated to bringing the community together after the shooting that left 26 dead. He later served as chairman of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial Commission.

He served on the commission, which is deciding on a permanent memorial for the victims, until his

resignation in April.

In a statement, Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said he has known Lyddy and his family for most of his life and the arrest came as a “complete shock.”

“Kyle has volunteered extensively and admirably for our community for many years and while these charges are serious, he deserves his day in court,” Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal said Lyddy never had access to any funds in his role as chairman of the Sandy Hook commission, and none of the organization’s donors have alleged any wrongdoing.

“Should a complaint arise, we stand ready to investigate promptly and fully,” he said.

Dan Krauss, the commission’s chairman, sounded surprised when he learned of his predecessor’s arrest, but declined to comment.

“I really don’t have anything to say on behalf of the commission,” Krauss said.

Lyddy did not return a call for comment on Tuesday.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Kyle Lyddy was arrested Tuesday and charged with stealing half a million dollars from his employer, a Norwalk marketing company, over a two-year period.