The Norwalk Housing Authority brought an action to evict a public housing resident due to the violent criminal conduct of the resident's son, Darrell McFadden. The Housing Authority alledged that McFadden and others attempted to rob a cab driver at gunpoint in November, 2004, near the entrance to the public housing complex where McFadden resided. When the cab driver refused to turn over the money, one of the robbers alledgedly shot the driver twice, resulting in his death. The Norwalk Housing Authority sought to evict the McFadden family based on a violation of the resident's public housing lease and state law.
Norwalk, CT (PRWeb) February 22, 2007 -- The Norwalk Housing Authority brought an action to evict Shanee McFadden and her family in connection with the murder of a cab driver at the Roodner Court Housing Complex in Norwalk, Connecticut. The case, "Norwalk Housing Authority v. Shanee McFadden", Connecticut Superior Court for Stamford/Norwalk at Norwalk, SNSP-031819, was tried on September 19, 2006.
In the case, a cab driver, Ralph Moreau, was shot to death during an attempted robbery on November 13, 2004. Two of the individuals involved in the robbery attempt, Darrell McFadden (son of Shanee McFadden) and Randy Johnson, agreed to cooperate with the State's murder case against co-conspirator, Rick Felix. McFadden and Johnson testified against Felix last Spring in the murder case, resulting in Felix's conviction for felony murder in the case of "State of Connecticut v. Rick Felix", Stamford Superior Court, Docket No. CR-04-0107049. Felix was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the offense.
Johnson testified at the eviction trial on September 19, 2006. Johnson testified that he had agreed to cooperate with the State's Attorney in exchange for a reduced sentence on a lesser charge. Johnson explained that he would plead guilty to first degree manslaughter and receive a sentence of 20 years, suspended after 8 years, with 5 years probation if he testified truthfully in the State's case against Felix.
Johnson testified at the eviction trial that he was visiting McFadden at his apartment when they were approached by Felix and Renel Romeus during the early morning hours of November 13, 2004. McFadden testified that Felix said he wanted to rob a cab driver, that he had done it before and it was easy. According to Johnson, the group walked from McFadden's apartment across the complex towards the entrance. Johnson used a cell phone to call the cab driver to the area near the entrance of the housing complex. When the cab driver stopped, he was approached by Felix and Romeus. Johnson testified that Felix approached the cab from the passenger side and pointed a handgun at the driver. Johson further stated that Romeus approached from the driver's side of the cab and pointed a shotgun at the driver. Johnson stated that Felix and Romeus demanded the cab driver's money but he refused and attempted to drive away. Johnson testified that Felix shot the cab driver as he attempted to drive away.
Detective James O'Leary of the Norwalk Police Department also testified at the eviction trial. Detective O'Leary testified that the cab driver was shot in the leg and torso area and died as a result of these injuries. Initially, the police department believed that Mr. Moreau was involved in a motor vehicle accident since he was able to drive down Ely Avenue after being shot and had crashed into a fence. Judge Jack Grogins presided over the eviction trial and found that the defendant Shanee McFadden had breached her public housing lease and entered judgment in favor of the Housing Authority.
Judge Grogins ordered the defendant to vacate her apartment by December 29, 2006. The Defendant failed to vacate as ordered by the court and the Housing Authority was forced to physically remove her from the apartment on January 26, 2007. The Housing Authority was represented by Donna M. Lattarulo of Lev & Berlin, in Norwalk, Connecticut. The defendant was represented by Mark Sank of Sank & Associates in Stamford, Connecticut.
"The evidence in this case proved that the conspiracy to rob the cab driver at gunpoint was hatched on Housing Authority property, carried out at the entrance of the housing complex, endangered the lives and safety of all residents, and resulted in the death of an innocent cab driver," Attorney Lattarulo stated. "We are satisfied that the Court's decision sends a strong message to other families in this community that the Housing Authority will not tolerate violent criminal activity by its residents."
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