Third, Fourth BUIs of the Season on Candlewood

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police made two arrests last weekend for Boating Under the Influence (BUI) on Candlewood Lake — bringing the total of BUI arrests on that waterbody to four for the season. 

On Friday, July 22, Kyle R. Kennedy, 21, of Danbury was arrested in the Echo Bay area of the lake on a charge of BUI. The charge is a result of a stop made during a joint Boating Safety Enforcement Operation with Candlewood Lake Authority (CLA). He is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Danbury on August 2. 

Kennedy was also charged with failure to display navigation lights and illegal operation of a vessel without a Safe Boating Certificate. 

On Sunday, July 24, Frank J. Torre, 55, of New Fairfield, was arrested on a BUI charge in the area of the lake around Sand Island in New Fairfield. EnCon officers had observed Torre operating a vessel and he allegedly failed to grant the right of way to the marked patrol vessel as it approached from his starboard side. Torre is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Danbury on August 2. 

Torre was also charged with violation of the rules of the road/rules to avoid collisions. 

“Boating Under the Influence can be deadly — not only to the operator of a vessel but to others out on the water nearby,” said DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette. “EnCon police have done an outstanding job this summer protecting our waters by conducting boating safety enforcement stops and often, as a result, arresting intoxicated boaters. Keeping intoxicated boaters off Connecticut waters makes boating safer and more fun for the rest of us.”