A New York man was arrested this weekend for allegedly trying to drown his two children on a Connecticut beach. The West Haven Police Department reported in a social media post On Saturday, June 22, an officer on patrol saw a Nissan pickup truck parked on a local beach and “heard significant screams from the water” around 2:31 a.m. local time.
Responding to the screams, the officer saw a man and two small children in the water. As the officer approached, the man began to “walk further away with the children as he yelled at the responding officers to ‘stay back,’” according to the West Haven Police.
The man, later identified as 41-year-old Romney Desronvil of Queens, was “deliberately drowning his children,” police said. “The officers immediately entered the water and at that time were almost 100 meters from the shore. “Other officers on scene joined members of the West Shore Fire Department and entered the water using the West Shore fire boat,” the police department continued.
The first officer was able to “take possession” of the children and bring them to shore with the help of others. The children were then transported to a local hospital, where police administered “life-saving measures.” ABC News reported.
Citing a Saturday press conference, local media New Haven Register reported that Police Chief Joseph Perno said Desronvil is expected to be charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of risk of injury. The incident remains under investigation.
“Without a doubt, the quick response of our patrol officers saved the lives of these children,” the department said. “The communication and collaborative efforts made by the West Shore Fire Department and eventually the New Haven Police Department allowed for immediate medical assistance and also the arrest of Desronvil.”
At the press conference shared by CT Insider, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer praised “the brave work of our officers” for their response. “These two children had guardian angels this morning, and the names of their guardian angels were Officer Williamson and Officer Miller,” she said, calling her efforts “truly remarkable.”
According to the New Haven Register, The mayor mentioned that the children seemed to be improving, as Chief Perno added that they were both under 3 years old. Perno also shared that his mother was in New York at the time of the alleged drowning attempt and she arrived in New Haven on Saturday afternoon.
West Shore Fire Chief Stephen Scafariello added during the news conference that firefighters, paramedics and paramedics “immediately got to work” with the children upon their arrival. He said it took 22 minutes from the time of shipment to the time the children received care at the hospital. “I would like to personally congratulate our firefighters who transported both patients in our rescue truck,” Scafariello said. “They provided care at the highest level.”
