New York man allegedly tried to drown his children in Connecticut: police

A New York man is in custody after police say he deliberately tried to drown his two children on a Connecticut beach.

Romney Desronvil, 42, of Queens, New York, was arrested and is being held by West Haven Police pending charges.

Police said the incident happened around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning in the area of ​​Ocean Avenue and Dawson Avenue in West Haven. An officer observed a Nissan SUV parked on the beach and, as he approached, he heard loud screams coming from the water, according to the sergeant. Patrick Buturla, West Haven Police Public Information Officer.

As the officer continued toward the screams, he saw a man and two young children in the water. As the officer entered the water, the man continued to walk away with the children while yelling at responding officers to “stay back,” police said. The officers immediately entered the water and were at that time almost 100 meters from shore. Other officers on scene joined members of the West Shore Fire Department and entered the water aboard the West Shore Fire boat.

The first officer to arrive was able to bring the children ashore, where first aid was provided. Both children were immediately transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

Both children are in intensive care at a local hospital, police said.

“It was without a doubt the quick response of our patrol officers that saved the lives of these children,” Buturla said in a statement. “Communication and collaborative efforts by the West Shore Fire Department and eventually the New Haven Police Department resulted in immediate medical assistance and the arrest of Desronvil.”

West Haven police said they are investigating the incident and more information will be provided.

Stephen Underwood can be contacted at [email protected]